PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

National Audit Office: Government Procurement Card

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level three or enhanced transaction entry was of each transaction undertaken by the National Audit Office using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10.

Edward Leigh: holding answer 29 June 2011
	The National Audit Office uses the Government Procurement Card as it is an efficient way of processing low value transactions.
	A table providing a breakdown of expenditure by the National Audit Office using Government Procurement Cards for 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 will be placed in the Library of the House. This includes (a) date of purchase, (b)amount, and (c) supplier. The National Audit Office does not receive level three or enhanced transaction entry information from our card provider.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Apprentices

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department has a policy on requirements for the provision of (a) apprenticeships and (b) other training by (i) his Department's prime contractors and (ii) suppliers in the supply chain of such contractors.

Hugo Swire: The Northern Ireland Office obtains its procurement services from the Department for Finance and Personnel Northern Ireland and therefore does not have a policy on the requirements for the provision of apprenticeships and other training by contractors.

Apprentices

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many apprenticeships have been created directly by contracts with his Department in each of the last three years.

Hugo Swire: Comparable figures for the Department as it is now configured are not available following the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010.
	Since April 2010, the Northern Ireland Office obtains its procurement services from the Department for Finance and Personnel Northern Ireland. It does not hold information on any apprenticeships that any contracts may have created.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the carbon dioxide emissions from his Department in (a) June 2010 and (b) June 2011.

Hugo Swire: The Department of Finance and Personnel Northern Ireland collate and publish annual carbon dioxide emission figures on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. DFP are currently collating the figures for 2010-11 and will publish these on their website when available.

Departmental Lost Property

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what property has been (a) lost and (b) stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the cost of replacement was.

Hugo Swire: There have been no recorded incidences of lost or stolen property from the Northern Ireland Office in the last 12 months.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  if he will consider keeping data on the number of times (a) he and (b) officials of his Department have declined a request for a meeting from an hon. Member of each political party;
	(2)  on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party was refused by (a) a Minister in his Department directly and (b) his Department on behalf of a Minister in November 2010.

Hugo Swire: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 6 July 2011, Official Report, column 1258W.

Phone Hacking

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  whether he has made an assessment of the effects of media telephone hacking on (a) public figures and (b) victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland;
	(2)  whether he has had discussions with (a) the Secretary of State for the Home Department and (b) the Metropolitan police on possible telephone hacking of (i) public figures and (ii) victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland.

Hugo Swire: Phone hacking is no more acceptable in Northern Ireland than in any other part of the UK, and illegal activities in this area will be pursued in accordance with the law.
	The Metropolitan police have a considerable body of evidence to consider, and at this early stage it is not possible to make an assessment of any impact on victims in Northern Ireland.
	The inquiry the Government are establishing into phone hacking and other illegal activity in the press will extend to Northern Ireland. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport is consulting the Executive on its terms of reference.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Visits Abroad

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have for overseas visits in the next 12 months.

David Mundell: Ministerial visits overseas, and those of officials, are planned as appropriate in support of trade and other Government policy objectives.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on plans to extend the High Speed 2 project to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

David Mundell: The Government remain committed to a truly national high speed rail network which will be delivered in phases. This would deliver clear benefits to Scotland and this issue has been discussed with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on various occasions, most recently on 11 July.

TREASURY

Banks: Loans

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with UK banks on levels of lending to small and medium-sized businesses.

Mark Hoban: The Chancellor of the Exchequer holds regular discussions with UK banks in which he discusses levels of lending to small and medium-sized businesses.

Conditions of Employment

Julian Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings officials of his Department have had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the Government’s employment law review since May 2011.

Justine Greening: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sector as part of the process of policy development and implementation. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Departmental Domestic Visits

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times he has visited (a) Buckinghamshire, (b) Surrey, (c) Liverpool and (d) Dorset in an official capacity since May 2010.

Justine Greening: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings in all parts of the country with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether his Department has estimated the effect on tax receipts for motoring fuel of a decrease in the rate of taxation on such fuel;
	(2)  whether his Department assessed the possible marginal effect on (a) low-income (i) individuals and (ii) families, (b) middle-income groups and (c) high- income groups of his planned increase in fuel duty on 1 January 2012;
	(3)  whether his Department assessed the possible marginal effect on low-income (a) individuals and (b) families of any increase in (i) VAT and (ii) motoring fuel duty; and if he will publish any such assessment;
	(4)  how much (a) fuel duty and (b) VAT revenue accrued to the Exchequer from sales of petrol and diesel in each of the last 10 financial years;
	(5)  whether his Department classifies motoring fuel duty as a progressive tax.

Justine Greening: At Budget 2011, the Government published their distributional analysis of the expected impact of announced government measures on household incomes, split by direct taxes, indirect taxes and tax credits and benefits. This can be found in annex A of the Budget Report. This analysis includes the impact of the increase in VAT, and other indirect tax changes such as the one penny cut in fuel duty and the ending of the fuel escalator.
	The analysis shows that, in absolute terms, the higher income and expenditure households on average contribute more in indirect tax than lower income and expenditure households, while average impacts as a proportion of income and expenditure are relatively flat across the distribution of households.
	VAT-registered traders are not required to record in their VAT return the type of goods or services on which VAT has been collected. Fuel duty receipts are published in table 3 of the UK Trade Info Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bulloil

International Assistance: Afghanistan

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of the increase in the UK’s contribution to the International Monetary Fund authorised in the International Monetary Fund (Increase in Subscription) Order 2011 which will be allocated to the Government of Afghanistan.

Mark Hoban: The International Monetary Fund (Increase in Subscription) Order 2011 authorises the increase in the UK’s quota contribution limit. This will become effective once two conditions are met. Firstly, member countries having not less than 70% of the total of quotas must have finalised domestic procedures and formally consented to the IMF in writing. Secondly, the proposed amendment of the IMF Articles of Agreement on the reform of the Executive Board must have entered into force. The G20 member countries have agreed to do this by autumn 2012.
	Further detail of the 2010 quota and governance reforms can be found on the IMF website at:
	http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2010/NEW110510B.htm
	The UK provides loans to the IMF as a whole, rather than to any specific country or country IMF programme. The IMF will loan funds to a member country if the IMF board approves a lending programme for that country. The UK will always honour their commitments as a shareholder of the IMF.

Local Government Resources Review

Caroline Flint: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in his Department (a) are working on the local government resources review and (b) have been seconded to the Department for Communities and Local Government to work on the review.

Justine Greening: One member of HMT staff is working on the local government resources review, and is co-located with the relevant team at the Department for Communities and Local Government. A number of other officials have been involved in advising Treasury Ministers on issues being considered through the review, as part of their wider substantive policy remits.

National Insurance Contributions

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many businesses have participated in national insurance contribution holidays in (a) Washington and Sunderland West constituency, (b) Sunderland and (c) the north-east since June 2010; and what the average financial benefit to each business has been;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the (a) costs and (b) benefits of extending the national insurance contribution holiday scheme to businesses that employ up to four people; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HMRC has received five applications for the NICs holiday from new businesses in the Washington and Sunderland West constituency and 18 from new businesses in Sunderland Central. HMRC has received around 326 applications from the north-east region as a whole since the introduction of the scheme in June 2010 (up to 8 July).
	Information on the average financial benefit is not yet available.
	A reliable estimate of the potential costs of extending the national insurance contributions (NICs) holiday to existing micro businesses who employ up to four members of staff is not available due to data limitations.
	The Government have considered the case for extending the NICs holiday to all existing micro businesses. However, we believe the best use of public funds is to target the NICs holiday at supporting new businesses in their first year, reducing the costs of hiring staff and improving the likelihood of business survival.

Northern Rock plc

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what advice he received from UK Financial Investments regarding the disposal of the Government's shareholding in Northern Rock; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will publish the (a) reports, (b) advice and (c) other information that underpinned his decision on the sale of Northern Rock; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: UK Financial Investments sent advice to the Chancellor of the Exchequer concluding that the best value would likely to be achieved by starting a sale process of Northern Rock plc.
	My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced the launch of the sale in his speech at Mansion House on 15 June.
	On 16 June my noble Friend Lord Sassoon, the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, and I made statements to the House regarding the Chancellor of the Exchequer's decision to proceed with the sale option.
	The report received by the Chancellor of the Exchequer contains commercially sensitive information and will not be published.

Overseas Trade

Martin Horwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) 10 and (b) 20 highest value trading partners with the UK were in (i) the latest period for which figures are available, (ii) 2005, (iii) 2000, (iv) 1995, (v) 1990, (vi) 1985 and (vii) 1981; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Office for National Statistics publishes data on the value of the United Kingdom’s exports, imports and trade balance broken down by trading partner. Data are available from 1992 to 2009 in the Pink Book and accompanying databases, available online at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/product.asp?vlnk=1140

Public Sector Pensions

Dominic Raab: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of financial liability for public sector pensions. [Official Report, 11 October 2011, Vol. 533, c. 4-6MC.]

Danny Alexander: The latest estimate of the total public service pension net liability is £1,133 million, as disclosed in the unaudited summary report of the Whole of Governments Accounts for the year end 31 March 2010 published on 13 July 2011.

Tax Allowances Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of annual tax relief on pension contributions which accrues to individuals with an annual income of (a) between £0 and £19,999, (b) between £20,000 and £44,999, (c) between £45,000 and £74,999, (d) between £75,000 and £99,999, (e) between £100,000 and £149,999, (f) over £150,000; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The estimated total cost of the various tax reliefs relating to pensions are published by HM Revenue and Customs on their website and can be found at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/pensions/table7-9.pdf
	The following table shows the approximate proportion of annual income tax relief on pension contributions by income bands in 2009-10.
	
		
			 2009-10 tax year 
			 Income bands Percentage of income tax relief on contributions 
			 £0 to £19,999 8 
			 £20,000 to £44,999 31 
			 £45,000 to £74,999 27 
			 £75,000 to £99,999 8 
			 £100,000 to £149,999 8 
			 Over £150,000 18 
			 All 100 
		
	
	The reductions in the annual allowance in 2011-12 and lifetime allowance from 2012-13 are forecast to reduce the cost of relief by around £4 billion per annum in the steady state, most of which relates to individuals with incomes over £150,000.

Tax Yields

Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department uses (a) dynamic and (b) static models to forecast receipts from (i) value added tax, (ii) fuel duty and (iii) other taxes.

Justine Greening: Receipts forecasts are produced by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) based on HMRC models of tax receipts and economic determinants provided by the OBR. The process and details of the models used for VAT, fuel duty and other taxes are set out in Office for Budget Responsibility Briefing Document 1: Forecasting the Public Finances, January 2011.

VAT: Tax Rates and Bands

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effect that the most recent increase in the rate of VAT has had on families in (a) Liverpool, Walton, (b) North West Hampshire and (c) Beaconsfield.

David Gauke: Data to make an assessment of the effect that the most recent increase in the rate of VAT has had on families are not available at constituency level. Annex A of the June 2010 Budget document provided analysis of the distributional impact of the Budget, including the VAT rate change.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Active Places Scheme

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had on the renaming of the Active Places scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: Officials in this Department have had discussions with Sport England about the Active Places scheme, which has been reviewed. The business service provided to local authorities will continue at a reduced cost, and the Active Places name will remain. A separate project is being considered for the consumer facing elements of the scheme, which has a working title of Connecting Sport. This project is currently in the early stages of development.

Advertising: Children

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what information his Department collects on the quantity of advertising aimed at children.

Edward Vaizey: The Department does not collect information on the quantity of advertising aimed at children.
	The Committee of Advertising Practice and its broadcasting equivalent are responsible for the regulation and consideration of advertisements, as well as Ofcom. The hon. Member may wish to contact these bodies directly for further information about advertisements aimed at children.

Arts: Finance

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what criteria exist within the Catalyst Arts Fund to balance grants allocated (a) regionally and (b) across art forms.

Edward Vaizey: The Catalyst Arts programme was announced by Arts Council England on 29 June. Criteria for the programme will be published in September.

Ministerial Meetings

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by (A) representatives and (B) employees of BSkyB since 12 May 2010;
	(2)  what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by (A) representatives and (B) employees of News International and its subsidiary organisations since May 2010.

Jeremy Hunt: holding answer 14 July 2011
	The Department publishes details of Minister’s meetings with outside interest groups on our website
	http://www.transparency.culture.gov.uk/category/financial/expenses-and-hospitality/
	This is updated on a regular basis. In addition, I refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's statement to the House of 13 July 2011, Official Report, columns 311-14. Following the consultations on the Ministerial Code, the Department will amend this information if necessary.
	In the particular case of the proposed News Corp/BSkyB merger, I have recorded on my Department's website that I had meetings with News Corp on 6 and 20 January, and minutes of these meetings will be published in due course.

Broadband

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he last met Ministers in the Scottish Government to discuss the roll-out of superfast broadband.

Edward Vaizey: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, has not recently met with Ministers of the Scottish Government in person. However, he did discuss the roll-out of superfast broadband in Scotland with the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, Alex Neil MSP, in a teleconference on the 29 June 2011.

Broadband

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what process companies who wish to bid for funding under the Broadband Investment Fund will be required to follow.

Edward Vaizey: The Government will publish indicative funding allocations for local authorities and the devolved Administrations to assist them with their local broadband planning. Local authorities and the devolved Administrations will be responsible for selecting suppliers through procurement to upgrade broadband infrastructure and services in their area of administrative responsibility.

Broadband Delivery UK

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many times Broadband Delivery UK has changed the requirements of its local broadband plan; and when the local broadband plan requirements will be finalised.

Edward Vaizey: The guidance and template documents for the local broadband plans have remained unchanged since publication in March 2011.

Broadband: Wales

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress is being made on the provision of broadband to areas of west Wales.

Edward Vaizey: The UK Government are working with the Welsh Government on the delivery of superfast broadband to 90% of all premises and a minimum standard broadband service for all premises in Wales. The Welsh Government is currently in procurement for suppliers to meet these broadband objectives in Wales.

Olympic Games 2012

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many people in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales applied to be 2012 Olympics games makers.

Hugh Robertson: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) are responsible for the games maker volunteer scheme and have not released a breakdown of the number of applications by nation/region. In total, almost 250,000 people applied before the application process closed in October 2010, and LOCOG are now selecting an estimated 100,000 people to attend a face-to-face interview for up to 70,000 games time roles right through to spring 2012. Applications were actively sought from across Wales, Scotland and all the other nations and regions with an aim to recruit a volunteer force that reflects the diversity of the UK. Selection centres have already been run in both Glasgow and Cardiff, and were expected to interview 2,100 and 1,500 applicants respectively.
	In addition, London and the UK-wide venue cities are setting up visitor welcome volunteer schemes called ambassadors, so that visitors experience a consistent welcome right across the UK. This includes schemes in Glasgow and Cardiff, as well as the other venue cities across England. Up to 8,000 London ambassadors are being sought, with around 3,300 planned for elsewhere in the UK.

Olympic Games 2012

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the estimated value to the Scottish economy is of the London 2012 Olympics.

Hugh Robertson: Scotland stands to gain from the wide range of opportunities created by the games, through businesses winning games-related work, increased tourism and cultural celebrations.
	As of June 2011, 25 Scottish businesses directly involved in the construction programme have supplied the Olympic Delivery Authority, to the value of almost £24.5 million. This includes Barr Construction, a Glasgow-based company and principal contractor for the basketball arena.
	This figure does not include the value of contracts further down the supply chain, however, some of those companies are listed as follows:
	Bodycote Testing, Glasgow, provided design services for the Aquatics Centre
	Euro Pools, Glasgow, provided specialist testing services for the Aquatics Centre
	Turner Access, Glasgow, provided protection equipment for the Aquatics Centre
	Wallace Brown, Edinburgh, provided office stationery for the Aquatics Centre
	Noral Architects, Glasgow, provided architectural services for Primary Substation
	Weldex, Inverness, provided plant hire services for the Olympic Stadium
	Additionally, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), is now procuring for the goods and services that it requires to stage the games. At least £700 million worth of contracts will be procured from the open market across eight sectors, and Scottish firms are encouraged to sign up to the online procurement portal CompeteFor to bid for this work, and keep their company profile up-to-date.

Public Lending Right

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has for the future management of Public Lending Right; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The Government recognises the importance of the Public Lending Right (PLR) to authors. We have made assurances that PLR payments will still be administered by a body operating at arm's length from government and with the same independence and impartiality currently awarded to the PLR Registrar. We are working to resolve as quickly as possible the issues associated with the transfer of the PLR's functions to another body.

Telecommunications: Hearing Impairment

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will discuss with Ofcom the hosting of regional roadshows as part of its review into relay service provision to enable profoundly deaf British Sign Language users to participate in the consultation.

Edward Vaizey: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport has no current plans to discuss with Ofcom the way it is conducting its review of relay services.
	Ofcom is aware of the differing communications needs of British Sign Language (BSL) users and is fully committed to make its consultation process accessible to BSL users.
	When Ofcom publishes the full consultation document on its website it will be accompanied by a BSL video translation. The video will summarise the issues, objectives and findings of the review so far. It will also translate the consultation questions and give an explanation of how BSL users, who wish to do so, can respond to the consultation.
	Ofcom will be inviting BSL respondents to provide a response to us on the consultation questions by e-mail or through a video response including a DVD, Windows Media Video (WMV) or by uploading their video response directly to a hosting site such as YouTube and to then send Ofcom the URL link. For video responses that are not marked as confidential, these will then be translated into written English and will be put up on Ofcom's website with other consultation responses alongside a link to the video, so that all interested stakeholders can view responses.

EDUCATION

Academies

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which underperforming schools he expects to convert to academy status in the next academic year; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Government have published on the Department for Education's website a list of all the sponsored academy projects in development.
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies
	Sponsored academies replace underperforming schools. The most recent list was published on 5 July and it included the details of 94 schools that are planned to open as sponsored academies in the academic year 2011/12. This list will be updated every month.
	In addition, it was announced on 16 June that as an urgent priority we would look to reopen as academies the 200 primary schools that have been below the floor standard for the last five years or longer. The majority of these schools will become academies in the academic year 2012/13. Those that we are able to open as academies in the academic year 2011/12 will be added to our website as the projects develop.

Academies: Private Education

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether academy schools are allowed to purchase places for their pupils at private schools.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 14 July 2011
	An academy's main source of funding is the General Annual Grant (GAG). The Academy Funding Agreement regulates the way in which the academy may use this funding and specifies that it may only be spent by an academy towards the normal running cost of that academy. An academy is also free to further its educational objects through funding obtained outside state sources such as through charitable donations.
	It is right that the funding provided by the state should be used fairly to raise educational standards which will benefit all the pupils in an academy. All academies can of course collaborate with, and learn from, the strong education that the independent sector provides. The Government do not however believe that state funding should be used to advance the education of individual pupils at private schools, but should instead be used to further the academy, and its pupils, as a whole.

Children: Databases

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children under 16 are allocated a unique learner number (ULN); what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the operation of the ULN; and whether he has considered reforming the system.

David Willetts: I have been asked to reply.
	Over 90% of children aged 13 to 16 within England are allocated a unique learner number (ULN). In 2010, a Skills Funding Agency internal audit of the operation of the ULN and the related systems, and a subsequent internal audit, undertaken jointly by this Department and the Department for Education, concluded that the ULN is managed well with a stable operation and appropriate oversight and controls. The audits noted sound internal and external sources of assurance along with positive feedback from the Information Commissioner's Office.
	We will continue to look at how the ULN can support more effective data and information sharing across educational settings to improve efficiency, reduce bureaucracy and provide better learner information to support advice, guidance and access to entitlements.

Children's Centres: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) children and (b) families were in receipt of support from Sure Start children's centres in York in (i) May 2005 and (ii) May of each subsequent year.

Sarah Teather: The Department for Education does not collect detailed information on Sure Start children's centres in individual local authorities. Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient children's centres in their area to meet local need, so far as is reasonably practicable. It is for local authorities to commission children's centres and to monitor and evaluate the use and impact of their services.

Classroom Assistants: Sevenoaks

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teaching assistants were employed in schools in the Sevenoaks area in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 14 July 2011
	The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants employed in publicly funded schools in Sevenoaks constituency in each January, 2006 to 2010.
	
		
			 Full-time equivalent teaching assistants in service in publicly funded schools, January 2006 to January 2010, Sevenoaks parliamentary constituency 
			  Number 
			 2006 260 
			 2007 290 
			 2008 320 
			 2009 380 
			 2010 260 
			 Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Census

Curriculum: Low-carbon Technologies

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether teaching on low-carbon technologies is currently included in the school curriculum; and what guidance he has issued to schools on its inclusion.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 12 July 2011
	The teaching of low-carbon technologies is not specifically identified within the current national curriculum. However, the programmes of study for science and design and technology set out a number of statutory key concepts which schools are required to teach. For science, these include recognising the importance of sustainability in scientific and technological developments; renewable energy sources and emerging technologies; and related ethical, economic and environmental issues. For design and technology, these include the impact of products beyond meeting their original purpose and assessing products in terms of sustainability.

Departmental Consultants

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on external consultants in respect of (a) its consultation on early years learning, (b) the development of a Sure Start children's centre reform programme and (c) the development of revised school building guidance.

Sarah Teather: Departmental expenditure on external consultants in respect of each of these issues is set out as follows:
	(a) Its consultation on early years learning
	Since August 2010, the Department spent £20,275 contracting Dame Clare Tickell, chief executive of Action For Children, to review the Early Years Foundation stage (EYFS). Her report, ‘The Early Years: Foundations for life, health and learning’, was published on 30 March 2011. Public consultation on a revised EYFS commenced on 6 July.
	(b) The development of a Sure Start children's centre reform programme
	The Department had a contract with Serco (who led a consortium of organisations known as Together for Children) to support the development of children's centres and the modernisation of services for children and their families, covering the period from October 2006 to March 2011.
	The contract was reviewed by the new Government and work was re-focused to help develop the Sure Start reform programme, reducing costs by £621,000. The amount spent under this contract from May 2010 to March 2011 was £6,120,984.
	(c) The development of r evised school building guidance
	Following the publication of the James review of Education Capital, the Department and PfS are reviewing school building guidance. No external consultancy costs have been incurred.

Education: Information and Communications Technology

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reasons his Department decided that England would not participate in the International Computer and Information Literacy Study being conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement.

Nick Gibb: A decision not to participate in the IEA International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) was taken by the previous Government at the end of 2008.
	England has participated, and continues to participate in a number of IEA studies, including the International Civics and Citizenship Study (ICCS) published in 2010, the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), both of which are taking place in schools this year. In addition, England participates in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the European Survey of Language Competencies, which both take place in schools in 2012, and the OECD Teaching and Learning Survey (TALIS) which will take place in 2013, the same year as ICILS.

English Baccalaureate

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils in (a) independent, (b) maintained and (c) all schools sat at GCSE the subjects which make up the English Baccalaureate in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2010; and how many such pupils in the maintained sector were eligible for free school meals.

Nick Gibb: 1996/97 figures for all schools are given in the following table. Figures for independent and maintained schools in 1996/97 can be provided only at a disproportionate cost. A breakdown by free school meal eligibility for pupils in maintained schools in 1996/97 is not available because pupil-level data have only been collected in the School Census since the 2001/02 academic year.
	
		
			 The number of 15 year old pupils (1)  in all schools entering the subjects (2)  required for the English Baccalaureate in 1996/97 
			  Number of 15 year old pupils in 1996/97 Number of 15 year old pupils entering the English Baccalaureate in1996/97 Percentage of 15 year old pupils entering the English Baccalaureate in 1996/97 
			 All schools 586,766 292,568 49.9 
			 (1) Aged 15 on 31 August 1996. (2) Figures for subjects making up the English Baccalaureate include GCSEs only/ Source: School and College Performance Tables (Final Data) 
		
	
	2009/10 figures are as follows:
	
		
			 The number of pupils at the end of key stage 4 entering the subjects (1 ) required for the English Baccalaureate in 2009/10 
			  Number of pupils at the end of key stage 4 Number of pupils at the end of key stage 4 entering the English Baccalaureate in 2009/10 Percentage of pupils at the end of key stage 4 entering the English Baccalaureate in 2009/10 
			 All schools(2) 639,263 140,551 22.0 
			 Independent schools 49,455 14,363 29.0 
			 Mainstream independent schools 47,094 14,343 30.5 
			 Independent special schools 2,361 20 0.8 
			 Maintained schools(3) 578,060 126,182 21.8 
			 Pupils attending maintained schools eligible for free school meals(4) 77,321 6,262 8.1 
			 (1) Figures for subjects making up the English Baccalaureate include GCSEs and legacy iGCSEs only. (2) Figures for independent and maintained schools do not sum up to the total as Community Hospital Schools and Pupil referral units are not included in the breakdown. (3) Including CTCs and academies. (4) FSM eligibility taken from the 2010 Spring School Census (January 2010). Source: National Pupil Database (Final Data)

English Baccalaureate: Teachers

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the number of fully qualified teachers available to teach core English baccalaureate subjects.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 11 July 2011
	Information on the qualifications and deployment of teachers in the secondary sector is collected in the new School Workforce Census, which took place in November 2010. The “School Workforce Census Statistical First Release” provides a head count of teachers to year groups 7 to 13 by subject in Table 12 and the proportions of teachers with a relevant post A-level qualification in the subjects they taught to year groups 7 to 13, split by subject, in Table 13.
	The following table summarises the number of teachers of English baccalaureate subjects, and the proportion with a relevant post A-level qualification in the subject taught.
	
		
			 Teachers of English baccalaureate subjects (1)  in publicly funded secondary schools (head count) to year groups 7 to 13 in 2010, and the proportions with a relevant post A-level qualification (2, 3)  in the subject, November 2010, coverage: England 
			 Subject (1) Total head count (Thousands) Any relevant post A-level qualification (3 ) (percentage) 
			 Mathematics 33.0 74.0 
			 English 36.6 79.6 
			 Combined/General Science(4) 33.3 88.6 
			 Physics(4) 5.6 68.6 
			 Chemistry(4) 6.7 72.7 
			 Biology(4) 8.4 88.4 
			    
			 History 15.0 75.5 
		
	
	
		
			 Geography 13.5 72.0 
			    
			 French 14.7 76.6 
			 German 5.7 68.5 
			 Spanish 6.4 53.2 
			 Other Modern Languages 3.3 33.5 
			    
			 Classics(5) 0.6 48.3 
			 (1 )Teachers are counted once against each subject that they are teaching. Head counts are used, so a teacher teaching French and German would be counted once in each. In the science subjects, the teacher will be counted under the subject as marked on their timetable—if a teacher is marked as teaching physics then they will only be counted under physics, whereas if they are marked as teaching physics and combined/general science they will be counted once against each subject. The 33,300 combined/general science teachers are teachers with combined/general science on their timetables; the figure does not include physics, biology and chemistry teachers unless they are teaching it as an additional subject and is marked as such on their timetables. (2 )A full list of what was deemed as a ‘relevant’ qualification subject for each curriculum subject taught can be found on the SFR home page. (3 )Includes all qualifications at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 4 and above. (4 )Teachers qualified in biology, chemistry, or physics are qualified to teach combined/general science. (5 )Classics includes classics, classical Greek, classical Hebrew and Latin. (6 )Not all schools were able to submit curriculum information, and not all qualifications returns were complete. Qualifications information was either not provided, or the subject field was missing for 12% of the teachers in schools submitting curriculum data. Note: Percentages are row percentages, and based on the number of teachers for whom curriculum and qualifications information was provided. Source: School Workforce Census, SFR Table 13. 
		
	
	A full list of subjects and the proportion of teachers with a relevant qualification are available in Table 13 of the School Workforce Statistical First Release, available at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000997/index.shtml

Further Education

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to publish details of applications received by his Department to open (a) free schools for 16 to 19 year olds and (b) university technical colleges in September 2012.

Nick Gibb: The Department is currently assessing the applications it has received to establish free schools and university technical colleges in September 2012. These include proposals for four 16-19 and 19 UTCs. An announcement will be made in due course about those that are approved to move to the next stage of development.

Headteachers: Ethnic Groups

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many non-white male head teachers are employed in schools in (a) Brighton and Hove, (b) Sussex and (c) England.

Nick Gibb: In November 2010 there were 130 male head teachers recorded as being from non-white ethnic groups employed in publicly funded schools in England; this represents 1.8% of those male head teachers whose ethnic group was recorded.
	Information disaggregated below national level will become available on 20 July. A wide range of regional, local authority and school level workforce measures, including ethnicity, will be published on the Department's website at the following link:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000997/index.shtml
	Non-white ethnic groups include those of mixed white origins. The information provided is taken from the School Workforce Census and, of the 7,620 male head teachers in service, ethnicity details were provided for 7,260.

Higher Education: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much mainstream grant funding was allocated by the Training and Development Agency for Schools to (a) the university of York and (b) York St John university in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: The TDA allocated the following mainstream grant to the university of York and York St John university in the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11.
	
		
			 £ 
			  Financial year 
			  2009-10 2010-11 
			 University of York 772,000 799,000 
			 York St John 3,765,000 3,672,000

History: GCSE

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals were entered for a (i) history GCSE and (ii) history A-level in 2010.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Number and percentage of pupils entering GCSE and A-level history by Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility, 2009/10 
			   Number of pupils Percentage of pupils 
			 Pupils entering GCSE history(1, 2) FSM(3) 14,131 18.3 
			  Non- FSM(3) 159,981 32.0 
			     
		
	
	
		
			 Students entering into A-level history(4,) ( ) (5) FSM(6) 1,245 5.1 
			  Non- FSM(6) 32,778 11.1 
			 (1) Pupils attending maintained schools (including Academies and CTCs). (2) Number of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. (3) FSM eligibility taken from the 2010 Spring School Census (January 2010). (4) Maintained schools and FE sector colleges only. Pupils taking A levels in independent schools are not included. (5) Students entered for a GCE or Applied GCE A level or other Level 3 qualification equivalent in size to an A level and aged 16-18 at the start of the 2009/10 academic year i.e. 31 August 2009. (6) Pupils eligible for free school meals at the end of year 11. Source: National Pupil Database (final data)

Home Education: Fees and Charges

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to issue new guidance on how home-educated children can be funded to attend further education colleges for GCSE courses.

Nick Gibb: The guidance for the alternative provision census is currently being reviewed. We will clarify the section on home education to make it clear that local authorities can include home-educated children where the authority is paying for their education in a further education college or elsewhere, and so receive funding for these children through the dedicated schools grant.

Home Education: Fees and Charges

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to encouraging local authorities to reclaim the cost of college fees for children who are electively home-educated via the alternative provision census.

Nick Gibb: The Department published guidance to local authorities in June 2010 explaining how they can access this funding. The guidance for the alternative provision census is currently being reviewed and we will consider clarifying the section on home education to make it clear that local authorities can include home-educated children where the authority is paying for their education in a further education college or elsewhere. The census enables the local authority to receive funding for these children through the dedicated schools grant.

Ofsted: Trade Unions

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many staff at Ofsted were entitled to work (a) full-time as trade union representatives and (b) part-time on trade union activities in the latest period for which figures are available; how many such staff received a salary greater than £25,900 per year; and what the total cost to the public purse was of employing such staff on such duties.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 13 July 2011
	This is a matter for Ofsted. HM chief inspector, Miriam Rosen, has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Letter from Miriam Rosen, dated 12 July 2011
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, for response.
	The latest period for which figures are available is 1 September 2010 to 31 August 2011. During that time, Ofsted had one full-time trade union representative, and 21 staff working part-time on trade union activities. Of those 21 part-time representatives, 15 were allocated a total of 30 days’ time or less in the period.
	Where facility time was allocated, two members of staff received an equivalent salary of more than £25,900 for that time. The total cost to Ofsted of time spent on trade union activities in the period was £196,000.
	Ofsted follows the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service Code of Practice, ‘Time off for Trades Union Duties and Activities’.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for Schools, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Pre-school Education: Finance

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what information his Department holds on the percentage difference in per pupil funding levels set by each local authority for (a) maintained, (b) private, (c) voluntary and (d) independent places as part of the Early Years Single Funding Formula;
	(2)  what information his Department holds on whether any maintained nursery schools have been indicated for closure by local authorities implementing the Early Years Single Funding Formula.

Sarah Teather: In order to improve fairness and transparency in the way free early education funding is distributed all local authorities have been required to implement an early years single funding formula from April 2011. Local authorities, in consultation with their Schools Forums, decide how best to distribute 3-16 funding across their locality. This includes setting funding rates for maintained, private, voluntary and independent providers of free early education. Local authorities are required to report on financial expenditure through section 251 returns. Data on individual local authority spend for 2011-12 are not yet available, but will be published later in the year. The Department has undertaken analysis of the rates paid by the 71 pathfinder local authorities that implemented their early years single funding formula from 2010. This analysis includes a breakdown of medium rates per hour by types of provider.
	Further details are available on our website:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/earlylearningandchildcare/delivery/funding/a0064843/early_years-single-funding-formula-analysis
	The Department does not hold information on whether maintained nursery schools have closed as a result of the implementation of the early years single funding formula. The Department issues statutory guidance to local decision makers on handling school organisation proposals. This guidance includes a presumption against closure of maintained nursery schools, on the basis that they generally offer high quality provision.
	The following table provides details of the 18 local authority maintained nursery school closures that have been implemented since 2009 along with the reason for closure.
	
		
			 Reason for closure 2009 2010 2011 Total 
			 Cease to maintain 1 — — 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Close for brand new primary — 3 — 3 
			 Close for brand new children's centre 5 — — 5 
			 Close to be added on to current school provision 3 4 2 9 
			 Total 9 7 2 18 
		
	
	This shows that in only one case (cease to maintain) the nursery provision was not replaced with planned alternative provision. In all other cases the closures were effectively technical and each was replaced with early years provision of some type.

Primary and Secondary Education: Standards

Rory Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what proportion of (a) children of members of the armed forces and (b) all children achieved the expected standard in reading and writing at Key Stage 1 in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2010;
	(2)  what proportion of (a) children of members of the armed forces and (b) all children achieved the expected standard in English and mathematics at Key Stage 2 in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2010;
	(3)  what proportion of (a) children of members of the armed forces and (b) all children at the end of Key Stage 4 achieved (i) five A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent and (ii) five A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and mathematics in (A) 1997 and (B) 2010.

Nick Gibb: The figures requested for 2010 are given in the tables. Figures for children of members of the armed forces for 1997 are not available because data for these children has only been included on the National Pupil Database since 2008.
	Information on service children should be treated with caution as there is known under-reporting of the data.
	
		
			 Key Stage 1 
			  Percentage of children of members of the armed forces achieving the expected level in reading Percentage of children of members of the armed forces achieving expected level in writing Percentage of all children achieving the expected level in reading Percentage of all children achieving the expected level in writing 
			      
			 2010(1) 87.0 83.2 84.7 80.9 
			 1997(2) n/a n/a 80 80 
			 n/a = Not available. (1) Source: National Pupil Database (2) Source: Statistical Release 6/99 (National Curriculum Assessments of 7, 11 and 14-year-olds in England—1998). Figures only available to Odp. Coverage: England, maintained school's (including Academies and CTCs) Note: Figures are based on final data. 
		
	
	
		
			 Key Stage 2 
			  Percentage of children of members of the armed forces achieving the expected level in English Percentage of children of members of the armed forces achieving the expected level in maths Percentage of all children achieving the expected level in English Percentage of all children achieving the expected level in Maths 
			 2010(1) 82.7 81.7 80.4 80.1 
			 1997(2) n/a n/a 63 62 
			 n/a = Not available. (1) Source: National Pupil Database. (2) Source: Statistical Release 6/99 (National Curriculum Assessments of 7, 11 and 14-year-olds in England—1998). Figures only available to Odp. Coverage: England, maintained school's (including Academies and CTCs) Note: Figures are based on final data. 
		
	
	
		
			 Key Stage 4 
			  Percentage of children of members of the armed forces achieving 5+ A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent Percentage of children of members of the armed forces achieving 5+ A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including  English and m athematics GCSE Percentage of all children at the end of Key Stage 4 achieving 5+ A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent Percentage of a ll children at the end of Key Stage 4 achieving 5+ A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and mathematics GCSE 
			 2010(1) 78.8 59.9 76.1 55.1 
			 1997(2) n/a n/a 42.5 32.5 
			 n/a = Not available. (1) Source: National Pupil Database. (2) Source: School Performance tables. Coverage: England, maintained schools (including Academies and CTCs) Note: Figures are based on final data.

Primary Education: Standards

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effects of (a) newly-appointed head teachers and (b) school improvement plans in improving standards in underperforming primary schools.

Nick Gibb: We do not gather specific data on the impact of new head teachers on improving standards in underperforming primary schools, as improvement plans are tailored to the needs of the school and will vary. In Ofsted's last annual report, November 2010, inspectors cite leadership and management as being one of the key weaknesses in inadequate primary schools. In some of these schools, bringing in a new head teacher will be the best way to turn school performance around.
	School improvement plans are developed, implemented and monitored locally. Parents and others can assess the effects of a school's improvement plan through the publication of the school's performance data.

Pupil Exclusions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) boys and (b) girls were subject to fixed period exclusions in maintained secondary schools in each local authority area in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The requested information has been placed in the House Libraries.
	The latest available data on exclusions were published in the Statistical First Release ‘Permanent and Fixed Period Exclusions from Schools in England 2008/09’ on 29 July 2010 at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000942/index.shtml
	Information for 2009/10 is due to be published on 28 July 2011.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of pupils in (a) East Sussex, (b) Brighton and Hove, (c) Brighton, Kemptown constituency and (d) West Sussex who will qualify for the pupil premium.

Nick Gibb: The pupil premium for 2011-12 has been allocated to local authorities and schools with pupils known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM) as recorded on the January 2011 School Census, Pupil Referral Unit Census and Alternative Provision Census. Each pupil known to be eligible for free school meals attracts £430 of funding which goes to the school or academy via the local authority or YPLA if the pupil is in a mainstream setting, or is managed by the responsible local authority if the pupil is in a non-mainstream setting.
	Local authorities also attract the looked after child pupil premium for 2011-12 which is being allocated to local authorities for pupils who at some point in the year to 31 March 2011 were looked after continuously for at least six months, and who were aged four to 15 on 31 August 2010 as recorded on the April 2011 local authority return. Each pupil attracts £430 of funding, which goes to the responsible local authority who pass it to maintained schools for pupils who have been in care for six months or more in the year to 31 March 2011.
	The service child premium for 2011-12 is allocated to local authorities and schools with pupils who are registered as service children on the January 2011 School Census.
	Each pupil known to be eligible attracts £200 of funding which goes to the school or academy via the local authority or YPLA.
	In East Sussex in January 2011 there were 9,220 pupils known to be eligible for FSM, 20 Service children and, based on 2010 figures, 330 looked after children.
	In Brighton and Hove there were 5,030 children eligible for FSM, no service children, and, based on 2010 figures, 250 looked after children.
	In West Sussex there were 8,110 children known to be eligible for FSM, 400 service children and, based on 2010 figures, 460 looked after children.
	Figures for looked after children will be updated in September, when data from the March 2011 looked after children return is finalised.
	In the Brighton, Kemptown constituency in January 2011 there were 8,411 pupils known to be eligible for FSM and no service children. These are approximate figures as it is not possible to determine the number of parliamentary constituency pupils recorded on the alternative provision census or recorded as looked after as they are both local authority, rather than establishment level, returns.
	Note:
	The local authority level figures in the above include FTE FSM-eligible pupils, in reception to year 11, or aged four-15 if not following, the National Curriculum, as at the January 2011 School Census and Pupil Referral Unit Census and headcount from four-15 in the Alternative Provision Census (i.e. those pupils funded through the Dedicated Schools Grant via local authorities but educated in non-maintained special schools, further education establishments, etc.) those eligible for the service child premium and those eligible for the looked after child pupil premium. Dual main registrations and sole registrations for five to 15 and all registrations for four year olds are taken. Pupil numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of children entitled to free school meals (a) entered for and (b) passed 
	(1)  GCSE Physics in each year since 1997;
	(2)  GCSE History in each year since 1997;
	(3)  a GCSE in a modern foreign language in each year since 1997;
	(4)  a GCSE English paper (English Language or English Literature) in each year since 1997;
	(5)  GCSE Mathematics in each year since 1997.

Nick Gibb: Figures for the years 2005/06 to 2009/10 are given as follows. Figures for the years 2001/02 to 2004/05 can be provided only at a disproportionate cost. Figures for the years prior to 2001/02 are not available because pupil-level data have only been collected in the School Census since the 2001/02 academic year.
	
		
			 Number of GCSE entries and passes by pupils (1)  who are eligible for free school meals, 2005/06 to 2009/10 (final data), coverage: England, maintained schools (including academies and CTCs) 
			  2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 
			 Number of FSM pupils 78,087 76,566 74,760 74,419 77,321 
			       
			 Physics      
			 Number entering 1,419 1,495 2,080 2,954 5,106 
			 Percentage entering 1.8 2.0 2.8 4.0 6.6 
			 Number passing 1,400 1,481 2,074 2.947 5,099 
			 Percentage passing 1.8 1.9 2.8 4.0 6.6 
		
	
	
		
			 History      
			 Number entering 14,726 14,057 13,348 13,475 14,131 
			 Percentage entering 18.9 18.4 17.9 18.1 18.3 
			 Number passing 13,632 13,048 12,460 12,688 13,375 
			 Percentage passing 17.5 17.0 16.7 17.0 17.3 
			       
			 Modern Foreign Language (2)      
			 Number entering 23,840 21,152 19,365 19,044 18,688 
			 Percentage entering 30.5 27.6 25.9 25.6 24.2 
			 Number passing 23,383 20,822 19,103 18,778 18,472 
			 Percentage passing 29.9 27.2 25.6 25.2 23.9 
			       
			 Mathematics (3)      
			 Number entering 70,419 69,579 68,437 68,168 71,931 
			 Percentage entering 90.2 90.9 91.5 91.6 93.0 
			 Number passing 65,558 64,875 64,877 65,260 69,590 
			 Percentage passing 84.0 84.7 86.8 87.7 90.0 
			       
			 English (3, 4)      
			 Number entering 68,498 67,851 66,812 67,436 71,288 
			 Percentage entering 87.7 88.6 89.4 90.6 92.2 
			 Number passing 66,204 65,760 64,971 65,821 69,781 
			 Percentage passing 84,8 85.9 86.9 88.4 90.2 
			 (1 )Number of pupils at the end of key stage 4. (2 )Includes GCSEs in the following subjects: French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Modern Greek, Portuguese, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Japanese, Modern Hebrew, Panjabi, Polish, Russian, Turkish, Urdu, Persian. (3 )In 2010 GCSEs, accredited at time of publication, have been counted as GCSE equivalents and also as English and mathematics GCSEs. (4 )English GCSE refers to English Language, English Language and Literature or English studies. This is the standard definition of English used in “English & mathematics” thresholds. These figures also include English Literature GCSE. Source: National Pupil Database

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of children entitled to free school meals (a) entered for and (b) passed a qualification which was not a GCSE but which was counted towards a school's rankings in GCSE performance tables in each year since 1997.

Nick Gibb: Figures for the years prior to 2001/02 are not available because pupil level data have been collected in the School Census only since the 2001/02 academic year.
	Figures for the years 2001/02 to 2009/10 can be provided only at a disproportionate cost. These data are not readily available on the National Pupil Database (NPD) in pre-defined form, and would need to be calculated. Detailed analysis is required to investigate which information in the NPD could be used to calculate the requested information correctly. This analysis and the time needed to quality assure the results could be completed only at a disproportionate cost.

Religion: Education

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of pupils in schools in England are being taught religious education at key stage (a) 3 and (b) 4.

Nick Gibb: The law requires all maintained schools in England to provide RE to all registered pupils at the school for the duration of their schooling. Academies are also required by their funding agreements. However, parents can withdraw their child from RE if they wish. We do not gather any data about the number of pupils withdrawn from RE.

Religion: Education

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department has taken against schools which have not fulfilled their obligations in respect of the teaching of religious education at Key Stage (a) 3 and (b) 4 since his appointment; and what sanctions are available to his Department in such cases.

Nick Gibb: The Department has not been made aware of specific instances of schools which have not fulfilled their obligations in respect of the teaching of religious education at any key stage.
	Religious education (RE) is a statutory part of the basic curriculum and all maintained schools, by law, must provide RE for all pupils attending school.
	The head teacher of a school, its governors, and the local authority, are responsible for ensuring that the school provides religious education: maintained schools are obliged to follow the locally agreed syllabus provided by the local authority.
	Academies are also required to provide RE, and this is set out in an academy's funding agreement. As with all subjects, academies have the freedom to design their own curriculum for RE. A parent may raise a complaint about an academy with the academy trust, and if their complaint is not handled appropriately, they may refer it to the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA), which deals with complaints about academies on behalf of the Secretary of State.
	A complaint about the curriculum in maintained schools should in the first instance be considered by the governing body (GB), as they share responsibility for the curriculum with the head teacher. If the complainant is not satisfied with the way in which the GB considers their complaint, they may refer it to the local authority. Ultimately the matter may be referred to the Secretary of State if it is still not resolved.

Schools: GCE A-level

Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of pupils in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) selective schools, (c) modern schools, (d) independent schools, (e) sixth form colleges and (f) other further education sector colleges were entered for A-levels in (i) accounting, (ii) art and design, (iii) business studies, (iv) communication studies, (v) dance, (vi) design and technology, (vii) drama and theatre studies, (viii) film studies, (ix) health and social care, (x) home economics, (xi) information and communication technology, (xii) leisure studies, (xiii) media studies, (xiv) music technology, (xv) performance studies, (xvi) performing arts, (xvii) photography, (xviii) physical education, (xix) sports studies, (xx) travel and tourism and (xxi) law or any (A) two and (B) three or more of the above subjects in (1) 1997 and (2) 2010;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of pupils in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) selective schools, (c) modern schools, (d) independent schools, (e) sixth form colleges and (f) other further education sector colleges were entered for A-levels in (i) mathematics, (ii) further mathematics, (iii) English, (iv) physics, (v) chemistry, (vi) biology, (vii) geography, (viii) history, (ix) a classical language and (x) a modern language or any (A) two or (B) three of the above subjects in (1) 1997 and (2) 2010.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 6 July 2011
	The available information for 2010 has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Information for 1997 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sixth-form Colleges

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to increase the number of sixth-form colleges.

Nick Gibb: There are no specific plans to increase the number of sixth-form colleges. We wish to encourage new providers to enter the market, where there is demand, in order to drive up quality and raise standards. This could include new sixth-form colleges. Through the Education Bill we are legislating to enable any person or body to make a direct application to the Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), to establish a sixth-form college corporation.

Special Educational Needs

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy that schools which are designated as teaching schools have a minimum Ofsted rating of very good for the quality of their provision for children with special educational needs or disabilities.

Nick Gibb: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), approved stringent designation criteria for teaching schools that include outstanding judgments for leadership and management, teaching and learning and overall effectiveness. To achieve this, schools must demonstrate that they have good provision for children with special educational needs or disabilities.

Teachers

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his proposed Teaching Agency will be responsible for the professional development of (a) teachers and (b) classroom-based support staff.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 12 July 2011
	The Teaching Agency's responsibility will include support for teachers and classroom-based support staff. The details of how this support will be delivered are being developed.

Teachers: Pensions

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to undertake his promised revaluation of the Teachers' Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 12 July 2011
	The Government put valuations of the public service pension schemes on hold while the consultation on the discount rate used to calculate contribution rates was taking place. The outcome of the consultation was announced in Budget 2011. The valuations remain on hold pending detailed consideration of the implications of the new discount rate.

Teachers: Qualifications

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans his Department has to recognise (a) Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills and (b) Qualified Teacher Status qualifications; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: Following her review of vocational education, Professor Wolf recommended that Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status should be recognised in schools. We agree that schools should have the freedom to appoint the right teachers for their pupils and the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), immediately accepted this recommendation.
	Professor Wolf’s recommendation will be implemented as soon as possible subject to statutory requirements and parliamentary process. We will consult fully on any amendments to the existing regulations.

Teachers: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the gross average salary of a full-time teacher in local authority schools in York Central was in (a) cash and (b) real terms in (i) May 1997 and (ii) May of each subsequent year.

Nick Gibb: The information requested for York Central constituency is not available.
	The following table provides the gross average salary of teachers in service in local authority maintained schools by cash terms and real terms for York local authority, in each March, 1997 to 2009.
	Teacher average salary information for England in November 2010 was published in April 2011 at the following web link:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000997/index.shtml
	Information disaggregated below national level will become available on 20 July. A wide range of regional, local authority and school level workforce measures, including pay will be included.
	
		
			 Gross average salary of full-time regular teachers (1 ) in service in local authority maintained schools (2)  in cash and real terms (3) ,  March 1997 to March 2009 (4) , York local authority 
			 £ 
			 As at March each year Cash terms Real terms 
			 1997 22,600 30,300 
			 1998 23,200 30,400 
			 1999 24,100 30,900 
			 2000 24,900 31,300 
			 2001 26,900 33,400 
			 2002 27,800 33,800 
			 2003 29,700 34,900 
			 2004 30,600 34,900 
			 2005 32,100 35,800 
			 2006 33,100 36,200 
			 2007 34,300 36,300 
			 2008(4) (5)— (5)— 
			 2009(4) 35,800 35,800 
			 (1) Teachers of all grades including school leadership. (2) Excludes CTCs and Academies. (3) Real terms figures calculated at 2008-09 prices using 28 June 2011 GDP deflators. (4) Provisional. (5) Figures are not sufficiently reliable. Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest £100. Source: Database of Teacher Records.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Brazil

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he discussed the Rio 2012 Conference on Sustainable Development with representatives of the Brazilian Government during his recent visit to Brazil; and what the outcome was of any such discussion.

Nicholas Clegg: I discussed the Rio 2012 Conference on Sustainable Development with members of the Brazilian Government including the Vice President and Foreign Minister. Conscious of the lasting impact of the Rio Conference of 1992, I made clear that the UK would play a full part in partnership with Brazil in helping this conference, 20 years on, plot a sustainable way forward for the world for the next 20 years.
	The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs held detailed discussions on this during her visit to Brazil in April and is in close touch with the Brazilian Environment Minister.

Members: Correspondence

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Erith and Thamesmead (Teresa Pearce) of 15 April 2011 on behalf of a constituent, Maurice Seamons.

Nicholas Clegg: The Minister with responsibility for political and constitutional reform, my hon. Friend the Member for Forest of Dean (Mr Harper), has replied on my behalf to the letter of 15 April from the hon. Member.

National Security Council

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what role and responsibilities he has in relation to the National Security Council; and what recent contribution he has made to its work.

Nicholas Clegg: I am the Deputy Chair of the National Security Council. I regularly attend meetings of both the main Council and its Libya sub-committee and chair both in the absence of the Prime Minister. Like the Prime Minister, I am able to contribute a whole-of-government perspective and to ensure the overall objectives of the NSC are achieved.

PRIME MINISTER

Phone Hacking

Ann McKechin: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has had discussions with the First Minister of Scotland on allegations of telephone hacking by the News of the World; and on what date any such discussions took place.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow East (Margaret Curran) on 13 July 2011, Official Report, column 329.

Phone Hacking

Chris Bryant: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the advice from the Cabinet Secretary to the then Prime Minister in early 2010 on the case for a statutory public inquiry into allegations of telephone hacking.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the advice that was published by the Cabinet Secretary on 14 July 2011. This is available on the Cabinet Office website:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/cabinet-secretary-advice-establishment-judicial-inquiry

Phone Hacking

John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister when his Chief of Staff first received information about the alleged involvement of the News of the World with criminals; what steps he took in response; and on what date.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 July 2011, Official Report, columns 302-03.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Peace Negotiations

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the death of Ahmed Wali Karzai on NATO-led negotiations with the Taliban.

Alistair Burt: Any process of reconciliation with the insurgency must be led by the Afghan Government. President Karzai has established the High Peace Council and the Joint Afghanistan/Pakistan Peace Commission to take this forward. Ahmed Wali Karzai was not directly involved in this work and we expect these institutions to continue their activity. However, it is too early to judge the full impact of his death on reconciliation.

British Nationals Abroad

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the Government's ability to evacuate UK citizens from (a) Syria, (b) Yemen and (c) Pakistan.

Alistair Burt: Given current circumstances, our consular contingency plans for Syria and Yemen are regularly reviewed and updated in accordance with the latest situation on the ground. For Yemen, our travel advice is quite clear, if people do not leave the country now, while commercial carriers are still flying, it is extremely unlikely that the British Government will be able to evacuate them or provide consular assistance. And for Syria, we have advised that those who choose to remain in Syria, or to visit against our advice should be aware that it is highly unlikely that our embassy would be able to provide a normal consular service in the event of a further breakdown in law and order and increased violent civil disorder. Evacuation options would be limited because of likely communication and travel restrictions. This advice was only given after careful consideration of the threats and difficulties that would face an official Government-led evacuation.
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office Officials regularly review contingency planning elsewhere in the world, including for Pakistan. Our ability to evacuate large numbers of people would always be limited.
	British nationals who are, or are planning to go overseas should always monitor the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's travel advice. If this advises departure from a given country, we encourage British nationals to take responsibility for their own safety and to follow that advice.

British Nationals Abroad: Death

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have died abroad in the last five years; and what the country of death was in each case.

Jeremy Browne: The figures in the table are the total numbers of deaths of British nationals overseas, of which we have been notified, for the financial years 2006-08 and 2008-11 by country. For 2006-08 these figures are the number of deaths that required consular action, taken from the Consular Annual Return submitted by overseas missions. The figures for 2008-11 are all deaths as recorded on Compass, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office consular assistance database.
	
		
			 Country Total 
			 Afghanistan 28 
			 Albania 8 
		
	
	
		
			 Algeria 2 
			 Angola 7 
			 Antigua and Barbuda 7 
			 Argentina 22 
			 Australia 380 
			 Austria 92 
			 Azerbaijan 5 
			 Bahamas 2 
			 Bahrain 65 
			 Bangladesh 20 
			 Barbados 81 
			 Belarus 2 
			 Belgium 150 
			 Belize 11 
			 Bolivia 15 
			 Bosnia and Herzegovina 14 
			 Botswana 23 
			 Brazil 89 
			 British Virgin Islands 6 
			 Brunei 10 
			 Bulgaria 132 
			 Burma 4 
			 Cambodia 55 
			 Cameroon 11 
			 Canada 341 
			 Cayman Islands 14 
			 Chile 22 
			 China 211 
			 Colombia 11 
			 Congo, Democratic Republic of 7 
			 Costa Rica 20 
			 Croatia 49 
			 Cuba 42 
			 Curacao 1 
			 Cyprus 915 
			 Czech Republic 68 
			 Denmark 71 
			 Dominican Republic 79 
			 Ecuador 23 
			 Egypt 342 
			 Eritrea 2 
			 Estonia 11 
			 Ethiopia 28 
			 Fiji 9 
			 Finland 18 
			 France 2,368 
			 Gambia 51 
			 Georgia 3 
			 Germany 1,855 
			 Ghana 57 
			 Greece 652 
			 Grenada 2 
			 Guatemala 15 
			 Guinea 1 
			 Guyana 5 
			 Hungary 32 
			 Iceland 12 
			 India 645 
			 Indonesia 67 
			 Iran 4 
			 Iraq 38 
			 Ireland 77 
			 Israel 34 
			 Italy 615 
		
	
	
		
			 Jamaica 118 
			 Japan 57 
			 Jerusalem 9 
			 Jordan 32 
			 Kazakhstan 10 
			 Kenya 161 
			 Kosovo 2 
			 Kuwait 111 
			 Laos 1 
			 Latvia 6 
			 Lebanon 29 
			 Libya 15 
			 Lithuania 8 
			 Luxembourg 1 
			 Macedonia 6 
			 Malawi 23 
			 Malaysia 139 
			 Malta 213 
			 Mauritius 22 
			 Mexico 95 
			 Mongolia 1 
			 Montenegro 5 
			 Morocco 82 
			 Mozambique 11 
			 Namibia 14 
			 Nepal 18 
			 Netherlands 150 
			 New Zealand 192 
			 Nigeria 78 
			 Norway 140 
			 Oman 47 
			 Pakistan 84 
			 Panama 4 
			 Papua New Guinea 4 
			 Peru 34 
			 Philippines 243 
			 Poland 96 
			 Portugal 980 
			 Qatar 43 
			 Romania 25 
			 Russia 48 
			 Rwanda 8 
			 Saudi Arabia 124 
			 Senegal 14 
			 Serbia 13 
			 Seychelles 6 
			 Sierra Leone 18 
			 Singapore 92 
			 Slovakia 24 
			 Slovenia 5 
			 Solomon Islands 3 
			 South Africa 264 
			 South Korea 19 
			 Spain 8,363 
			 Sri Lanka 64 
			 St Lucia 12 
			 Sudan 9 
			 Sweden 99 
			 Switzerland 433 
			 Syria 3 
			 Taiwan 4 
			 Tanzania 20 
			 Thailand 1,491 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 18 
		
	
	
		
			 Tunisia 74 
			 Turkey 458 
			 Turkmenistan 2 
			 Uganda 20 
			 Ukraine 18 
			 United Arab Emirates 307 
			 Uruguay 3 
			 USA 674 
			 Uzbekistan 4 
			 Venezuela 18 
			 Vietnam 54 
			 Yemen 4 
			 Zambia 86 
			 Zimbabwe 64

British Nationals Abroad: Death

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration his Department plans to give to the mandatory assignment of family liaison officers in cases of deaths of UK citizens abroad.

Jeremy Browne: The decision on whether or not to deploy a family liaison officer (FLO) following the death of a British national abroad rests with the chief officer of the appropriate police force.
	We understand that the Association of Chief Police Officers are currently working on terms of reference to ensure that the decision is made in a consistent way across the country.

Council of Europe

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on the immunity of delegates to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe when making statements (a) orally and (b) in writing at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and its committees.

David Lidington: The immunities of delegates to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) are set out in Part V of the General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities in the Council of Europe (1949) and its Additional Protocol (1952). In particular, article 15 of the General Agreement states that:
	During the sessions of the Consultative Assembly, the Representatives to the Assembly and their substitutes, whether they be members of Parliament or not, shall enjoy:
	a) on their national territory, the immunities accorded in those countries to members of Parliament;
	b) on the territory of all other member States, exemption from arrest and prosecution.
	Article 5 of the Additional Protocol states that:
	Privileges, immunities and facilities are accorded to the representatives of members not for the personal benefit of the individuals concerned, but in order to safeguard the independent exercise of their functions in connection with the Council of Europe. Consequently, a member has not only the right but the duty to waive the immunity of its representative in any case where, in the opinion of the member, the immunity would impede the course of justice and it can be waived without prejudice to the purpose for which the immunity is accorded.

Cyprus: Press Freedom

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Turkish authorities in northern Cyprus regarding protection for (a) freedom of the press and (b) free speech following recent acts of intimidation of journalists and newspapers in that area; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: The UK takes very seriously freedom of speech and the right for the press to publish factual information. I was disturbed by the recent reports of intimidation of journalists in northern Cyprus, including the attempt against the life of a journalist at the Afrika newspaper. Officials from our high commission in Nicosia have raised their concern on these issues with a number of senior contacts within the Turkish Cypriot community.

Cyprus: Press Freedom

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made and to whom regarding the ending of the emergency law provisions in northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: We have not made any representations regarding the ending of the emergency law provisions in northern Cyprus and have no plans to do so.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking at UN level to ensure that MONUSCO troops are able to detain soldiers alleged to have committed an offence of rape until the police are able to attend to the matter.

David Lidington: MONUSCO has recently assisted with the transfer of soldiers accused and convicted of rape. UN Security Council resolution 1991, which the British Government had a significant part in shaping, instructs the UN Peacekeeping Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (MONUSCO) to act under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, the most robust possible mandate. UNSCR 1991 prioritises the protection of civilians. UNSCR 1991 also emphasises the need to act against sexual and gender based violence, and to help end impunity. We regularly encourage MONUSCO to work closely with the DRC security forces to prevent human rights violations by their members, and ensure the detention and prosecution of those responsible.

Departmental Billing

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of invoices from small and medium-sized businesses were paid by his Department within five working days of receipt in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

David Lidington: In May 2010 the Government target to pay 90% of supplier invoices within 10 working days was replaced with a new target to pay 80% of supplier invoices in five working days. In the period from June 2010 to May 2011 the FCO paid 88.4% of supplier invoices within five working days of receiving a valid invoice. The FCO supports this important Government initiative and is aware of the importance of paying suppliers as quickly as possible.
	Information on the size of the FCO's suppliers is not held centrally so to identify invoices from only small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the carbon dioxide emissions from his Department in (a) June 2010 and (b) June 2011.

David Lidington: Between 14 May 2010 and 13 May 2011 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office delivered a reduction of 18.1% in carbon dioxide emissions from its office estate. Under the Green Government Commitments it is now committed to delivering a 25% reduction in green house gases by 2014-15.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's non-weather corrected office emissions in June 2010 amounted to 760 tonnes carbon dioxide.
	FCO non-weather corrected emissions from its office estate for June 2011 amounted to 705 tonnes carbon dioxide.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been (a) recruited and (b) made redundant from (i) his Department and (ii) each non-departmental body for which he is responsible since May 2010.

David Lidington: Recruitment undertaken by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and non-departmental bodies since May 2010 is as follows:
	FCO: 112.4
	BBC World Service: 34.4
	British Council: 88
	Wilton Park: 5
	FCO Services: 47
	Westminster Foundation for Democracy: 3
	Great Britain China Centre: 0
	Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission: 6
	Foreign Compensation Commission: 0
	There have been no compulsory redundancies undertaken by FCO and non-departmental bodies since May 2010.

Departmental Procurement

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the annual value is of his Department's current contracts in each sector in which contracts are held.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold information centrally on all contracts awarded as budgets are devolved to directorates in London and to over 260 posts overseas. The annual value of current contracts in each sector could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party has been refused by (a) a Minister in his Department directly and (b) his Department on behalf of a Minister since May 2010.

David Lidington: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers value exchanges with hon. Members on their work and will always try to accommodate their requests for meetings. We do not hold a record of the occasions where this has not been possible. I know that many hon. Members also speak directly with FCO officials on a variety of subjects, and welcome this contact.

Developing Countries: Marriage

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps British embassies and high commissions are taking to encourage developing countries to reduce rates of early and forced marriage.

Jeremy Browne: The UK is a world-leader in tackling forced marriage, including child (or early) marriage. It is an appalling and indefensible practice and is recognised in the UK as a form of violence against women and men, domestic abuse, a serious abuse of human rights and, where a minor is involved, child abuse.
	The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU)—a joint initiative between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Home Office—was set up in January 2005 as the Government's one-stop shop for dealing with forced marriage policy, outreach and casework. It operates both inside the UK, where support is provided to any individual, and overseas, where consular assistance is provided to British nationals.
	The FCO promotes human rights for all people, including children, in line with the UK's values and obligations. We do this through our work in the United Nations and the European Union, and we also work bilaterally with other countries to implement the UN convention on the rights of the child (CRC) and its two optional protocols. The UK strongly supports the CRC, which sets the international standard for protecting and promoting the rights of children, and works hard to encourage countries to fulfil their obligations.
	British embassies and high commissions monitor and raise human rights issues, including women's and children's rights, in their host countries. FCO staff routinely raise our concerns with host governments and, where appropriate, take action on individual cases and push for changes in unfair practices and laws. In countries where there are significant numbers of forced marriage cases (particularly in South Asia), embassies and high commissions do specific work to highlight the issue of forced and child marriage as a human rights abuse. For example in Pakistan, the high commission has worked with a local non-governmental organisation to deliver a major awareness-raising campaign, runs an outreach programme (including workshops with local government officials, and a women's rights workshop with human rights activists), and participates in media activity to encourage discussion in the community. The FMU, in conjunction with embassies and high commissions, is currently developing plans to expand this work across South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and the Horn of Africa.
	The FCO released our 2010 Human Rights Report in March. The report covers our work on human rights issues in 2010 and looks in-depth at the human rights situation in 26 countries of concern. It also contains sections on women's and children's rights. You can read and comment on the report by visiting our website at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/hrdreport

European Union

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who sits on the Darroch-Cunliffe Committee; what its terms of reference are; and to whom it reports.

Oliver Letwin: I have been asked to reply.
	This is a regular meeting chaired by the Prime Minister’s adviser on European and global issues attended by the UK permanent representative to the EU and senior officials from across Government Departments to consider items of EU business and agree advice to Ministers.

Camp Ashraf

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Camp Ashraf in Iran.

Alistair Burt: We remain concerned about the humanitarian situation at Camp Ashraf in Iraq, and continue to monitor events closely. We continue to urge the Government of Iraq to allow medical supplies to enter the camp and ensure that residents have full access to medical care. Along with our international partners, including the US, we continue to press the Iraqi authorities to ensure that the residents of the camp are treated in accordance with the rights and protections they enjoy under international human rights law and domestic Iraqi law, in particular the Iraqi constitution. The UK visited the camp on 7 July on a consular visit to assess whether any British nationals required assistance.

Israel: British Nationals Abroad

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with his Israeli counterpart the case of UK activists held at Givon prison in Ramle, Israel; if he will establish the basis for their detention; whether any charges have been brought; under what conditions they are being held; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: holding answer 14 July 2011
	I can confirm 12 British nationals were detained on 8 July at Ben Gurion airport. By 13 July, all but one had returned to the UK, with one being allowed to enter Israel. None of them were charged. The legal basis for their detention is a matter for the Israeli authorities, and for the detainees to follow up through their own lawyer should they wish to. However, our travel advice clearly states that travellers to the Occupied Territories may face difficulties on arrival. They were visited four times by consular staff, including a visit by our ambassador to Israel.
	Our ambassador was in regular contact with the Israeli Government at a senior level to facilitate the quickest possible return of the detainees, and his team were in constant communication to raise and resolve issues at the working level. We will follow up any allegations of mistreatment with the Israeli authorities.

Kashmir: Human Rights

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on Amnesty International's recent report on the human rights situation in Kashmir.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of the recent report by Amnesty International that provides evidence of large numbers of detentions in Indian administered Kashmir over the past twenty years. Members of the all-party parliamentary group on Kashmir raised it with me when I met them on 7 June 2011. The Minister of State, my noble Friend, the right hon. Lord Howell, answered a similar question in the other place on 6 April 2011, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA396.
	During a recent visit to Indian-administered Kashmir, officials from our High Commission in New Delhi discussed this issue with the Jammu and Kashmir state police and human rights groups. The issue of security legislation including the Armed Forces Special Powers Act as enforced in certain regions of India, was raised with the Indian Government during the recent EU-India human rights dialogue.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the UK's involvement in operations in Libya; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The UK's involvement in operations in Libya is under continuous assessment.
	Our involvement remains compliant with UN Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973, and our actions continue to save lives. NATO strikes have prevented Benghazi from falling, have reduced pressure on the besieged city of Misrata, and have enabled delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of thousands of wounded. We will sustain these operations until the Gaddafi regime ceases attacks on its own people and complies with the UN Security Council Resolutions.

Libya: Politics and Government

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings of the Libya Contact Group have been attended by his Department's officials over the last six months.

Alistair Burt: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have attended each of the three meetings of the Libya Contact Group held to date.

Libya: Politics and Government

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times Ministers in his Department have met representatives of the National Transitional Council of Libya over the last six months.

Alistair Burt: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have met with representatives of the National Transitional Council (NTC) at each of the three Libya Contact Group meetings held to date. In addition, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met Mahmoud Jibril on 29 March 2011 at the London Conference on Libya. He also met the NTC Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil during his London visit on 12 May 2011 and in Benghazi on 4 June 2011.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what purposes UK arms exports to Israel may be used by the Israeli military in the West Bank and Gaza in accordance with the Consolidated EU and National Criteria.

Alistair Burt: The Government policy on the export of UK controlled military goods to all destinations is based on the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. All export applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, against the Consolidated Criteria, taking into account the circumstances prevailing at the time of the application and the stated end user and end use. The criteria make clear that the Government will not approve the export of controlled military goods where there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression, or where it would provoke or prolong armed conflicts or aggravate existing tensions or conflicts in the country of final destination.

Middle East: EU Action

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on a common policy on Palestine.

Alistair Burt: We discuss the Middle East Peace Process regularly at ministerial and official level with EU partners. We welcome the important progress the Palestinian Authority, in the West Bank, has made in building institutions of state.
	We continue to believe that the best way to achieve a lasting solution that delivers a sovereign, independent and contiguous Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel at peace with its neighbours is through a negotiated solution. The EU FAC conclusions of May 2011 set out the European policy on the Occupied Palestinian Territories and its hopes for a future Palestinian state.
	http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/122165.pdf

Montserrat: Environment Protection

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assistance his Department has given to Montserrat for promoting environmental awareness.

David Lidington: The British Government are providing assistance for environmental projects through the Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP) which is jointly funded by the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This year projects to conserve the Centre Hills in Montserrat through the effective control of feral livestock populations (chickens, goats, cattle) and the second stage of a reef project are receiving OTEP funding.
	Responsibility for environmental issues has been devolved to the governments of the Overseas Territories. It is therefore for the Government of Montserrat to promote awareness of the environment.

North Africa: Politics and Government

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department plans to provide for the European Endowment for Democracy in North Africa over the next 12 months.

David Lidington: The UK welcomes a renewed focus on civil society in the European Neighbourhood Policy. The idea of a European Endowment for Democracy has been raised in this context but no detailed proposal has yet been put forward.

Overseas Education: Scholarships

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions officials of his Department have had with the Department for Education on study-abroad scholarships.

Jeremy Browne: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials have had no recent discussions with the Department for Education on study-abroad scholarships.

Pakistan: Politics and Government

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department has provided to (a) the Government of Pakistan to combat terrorism and (b) the Pakistan Army in each of the last five years.

Alistair Burt: The UK has a strategic relationship with Pakistan, formalised in the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue. This includes a strand under the National Security Dialogue, which focuses on counter-terrorism and other security issues. Our intensive diplomatic efforts, bilaterally, multilaterally, and in concert with key partners such as the US, are complemented by a programme of counter-terrorism assistance to Pakistan. This includes supporting the development of strong institutions and machinery of Government. As part of this co-operation, we have assisted Pakistan's law enforcement and security forces, for example in improving their ability to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs). However, due to the sensitive nature of counter terrorism projects, we are unable to provide detailed spend figures for our assistance programme.

Palestinians: Human Rights

Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to uphold accountability for allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law arising from the Gaza conflict through full, fair and impartial investigations by the parties since January 2011.

Alistair Burt: The allegations about the conduct of both sides during the Gaza conflict are very serious. From the outset we have called for them to be properly and independently investigated by both sides.
	We are committed to upholding accountability for allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law that arose from the Gaza conflict through full, fair and impartial investigations by the parties.
	We will continue to press the parties on this point and follow the progress of investigations closely.

Somalia: Piracy

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many prosecutions for piracy have been brought by the Government as part of its operations off the coast of Somalia in the last 12 months.

David Lidington: In the last 12 months there have been no prosecutions of Somali pirates resulting from military action by the Royal Navy. However, 14 Somali pirate suspects are now sentenced or in custody in Kenyan prisons following handover by the UK.

South Sudan: Armed Forces

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support the demobilisation and reintegration of child soldiers in southern Sudan.

Jeremy Browne: The UK Government were a co-sponsor and strong supporter of the new mandate for the UN Mission in South Sudan, which states that the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and the SPLA should renew their action plan to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers, requests UNMISS to advise and assist South Sudan in this regard and requests the Secretary-General to strengthen child protection in UN system activities in the Republic of South Sudan and ensure continued monitoring and reporting of the situation of children (OP 10 of UNSCR 1996). The UK also co-sponsored a new UN children and armed conflict resolution (UNSCR 1998), adopted on 12 July, and took the opportunity to emphasise the importance of UN action on this issue.

South Sudan: Christianity

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received on measures taken to support and protect Christians in border regions following the independence of South Sudan.

Jeremy Browne: The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has a mandate to protect civilians, irrespective of their religion, in the Republic of South Sudan under imminent threat of physical violence. The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) is authorized to use force in protecting civilians and humanitarian workers in Abyei. UNMISS is expected to report to the UN Security Council (UNSC) within four months of 9 July. UNISFA will report within 30 days of its mandate (27 June) to the UNSC.

South Sudan: Diplomatic Relations

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will establish diplomatic relations with South Sudan.

David Lidington: The British Government were among the first to recognise the Republic of South Sudan. We now have an embassy in Juba as well as a Department for International Development office. The British ambassador to South Sudan is already in Juba.

South Sudan: Politics and Government

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the proposal of the US administration for a deadline of the end of July for the resolution of (a) oil sector issues, (b) the final status of Abyei and (c) all other outstanding issues relating to Sudan and South Sudan.

Jeremy Browne: We urge Sudan and South Sudan to resolve all outstanding issues as soon as possible. We will continue to work closely with the US and other partners.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on future support for the UN mission in Sudan.

David Lidington: The British Government's view is that the presence of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) is still needed in Southern Kordofan State. We have consistently made this view clear. However, UN peacekeeping operations are deployed with the consent of the main parties to the conflict and the Government of Sudan insisted that UNMIS cease to operate in Sudan alter 9 July. Security Council Resolution 1997, adopted on 11 July, therefore set in motion the withdrawal of UNMIS by 31 August 2011, while expressing the readiness of the Council to continue current UN operations in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to seek the release of UN staff in Sudan.

David Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), condemned the detentions of UNMIS staff in his statement of 28 June 2011. The UK permanent representative to the UN has also raised the detention of UN staff in his statements to the UN Security Council.

UK Membership of EU

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what objectives he has set for the Government to maximise what it wants from the UK's engagement with Europe; and whether such objectives will include any opportunity to renegotiate the UK's relationship with the EU.

David Lidington: The coalition agreement sets out this Government's broad objectives for its relations with the European Union (EU). All Ministers seek to advance the interests of the United Kingdom through their engagement with the EU.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Harrier Aircraft

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider deploying Harrier aircraft for operations in Afghanistan.

Nick Harvey: The Harrier fleet has been withdrawn from service and there are therefore no plans to deploy Harrier aircraft for operations in Afghanistan.

Air Force: Military Bases

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the RAF basing review will take into account his Department's obligations in respect of the New Employment Model; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The New Employment Model is still in development and will be progressively implemented over the period 2015 to 2025. The potential implications are a key factor in the basing review work under way.

Armed Forces

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse per family of the forthcoming return of British troops from Germany.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 11 July 2011
	The Ministry of Defence does not hold financial estimates on the costs of rebasing UK troops in Germany in the format requested. In depth work is currently being undertaken on how the rebasing of UK troops in Germany will be implemented. Before this work has been completed it would be too early to say what the overall financial impact will be.

Armed Forces: Children

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service children are in receipt of continuity education allowance.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 14 July 2011
	A total of 9,080 children of service personnel were beneficiaries of continuity of education allowance in financial year 2010-11.

Armed Forces: Education

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what proportion of recruits' time at the Army Foundation College Harrogate is allocated to academic study leading to recognised civilian qualifications;
	(2)  what percentage of 17-year-old recruits training at the Army Foundation College Harrogate were studying and subsequently achieved one or more A-levels in each of the last 10 years; in which subjects such A-levels were awarded; and how many such A-levels were awarded (a) in total and (b) at grade C or above in each such year;
	(3)  what percentage of recruits training at the Army Foundation College Harrogate achieved one or more BTEC, HNC and HND in each of the last 10 years; and in which subjects and at what grade each such qualification was obtained.

Nick Harvey: All recruits training at the Army Foundation College (AFC) undertake vocational qualifications. All soldiers are enrolled on a level 2 apprenticeship for IT users which consists of the level 2 iTQ diploma for IT users along with functional skills (FS) in English and maths at level 1. All those who achieve level 1 FS in English and maths during the programme have the additional opportunity to achieve those skills at level 2.
	Recruits attend AFC for 50 weeks, during which 416 periods of 40 minutes each are allocated to the delivery and assessment of the apprenticeship.
	Recruits at AFC do not undertake BTEC, HNC or HND qualifications. Nor do they undertake A levels.

Armed Forces: Officers

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new entry officer cadets there were at (a) Dartmouth, (b) Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and (c) Cranwell in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 12 July 2011
	The number of new entry officer cadets entering the service academies in each of the last 10 years is presented in the following tables:
	
		
			 Intake 
			  2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth 413 393 367 300 345 321 386 408 322 419 
		
	
	
		
			 Intake 
			  2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Royal Military Academy Sandhurst 682 702 746 719 735 721 712 707 696 771 
			 RAF College Cranwell — — 705 411 500 530 610 806 611 343 
			 Notes: 1. Royal Navy figures are presented by calendar year. The Army and RAF data are presented by financial year. 2. RAF statistics of the intake to the RAF College Cranwell before 2003-04 are not available.

Defence Equipment: Finance

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate how much of the (a) equipment support plan and (b) equipment plans budgets were spent in (i) the UK, (ii) England, (iii) Wales, (iv) Northern Ireland and (v) Scotland in each of the last five years.

Peter Luff: holding answer 4 July 2011
	Estimated direct Ministry of Defence (MOD) expenditure on equipment, including equipment support, for two of the last five years for which data are available for the UK, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are presented in the following table. These use a wider definition of equipment expenditure than employed in the MOD equipment and equipment support plans.
	
		
			 £ million inclusive of non-recoverable VAT at current prices 
			  2006-07 2007-08 
			 United Kingdom 10,320 10,660 
			 England 9,620 9,900 
			 Scotland 520 510 
			 Wales 120 30 
			 Northern Ireland 60 120 
			 Note: Figures rounded to nearest £10 million 
		
	
	Estimates of MOD direct regional expenditure on equipment and non-equipment have not been produced since 2007-08 as they do not support MOD policy or operations. The MOD continues to report overall expenditure on procurement in the UK Defence Statistics, available on the following website:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk
	A copy is available in the Library of the House.
	This annual report presents the MOD procurement of goods and services in the UK by industry sector in Table 1.11, and estimates of aggregate MOD equipment procurement expenditure in Table 1.4.

Defence: Procurement

Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on procurement from UK-based engineering companies.

Peter Luff: We will publish a White Paper later this year setting out our approach to acquiring the equipment that we need for our armed forces, and how we will support that equipment and its users. This will build on the public consultation following last December's ‘Equipment, Support and Technology for UK Defence and Security’ Green Paper.
	The Government are already taking effective steps to provide much greater support to UK defence exports and to make it easier for smaller enterprises to do business with the public sector, including with the Ministry of Defence.

Defence: Procurement

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value is of urgent operational requirements (UOR) for Libya; and to what equipment each UOR relates.

Peter Luff: To date, only two urgent operational requirements (UORs) have been approved for Libya. The first was for the procurement of two Litening III Laser Designator Pods for use on Typhoon aircraft. Procurement of these pods was brought forward as a UOR due to the emergent need. However, they are being funded by the core equipment budget as the cost of £3.12 million had already been planned. The second was for the extension of the Digimap system that has been successfully used in Operation Herrick at a cost of £200,000 provided through the reserve.

Defence: Procurement

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been of urgent operational requirements in each theatre of engagement since the conclusion of the strategic defence and security review.

Peter Luff: From 1 October 2010, no spending has been approved for urgent operational requirements (UORs) in the northern Gulf. For Libya, a total of £3.12 million has been approved on UOR equipment procurement, with funding from the core equipment budget and £0.2 million from the Treasury Reserve. For Afghanistan, a total of £645.5 million has been approved for UORs.

Defence: Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many procurement contracts his Department has awarded to small businesses since May 2010.

Peter Luff: The most recent period for which data are available is the 12 months to the end of March 2011. During that period, we estimate that the Ministry of Defence placed approximately 2,500 new procurement contracts directly with small and medium-sized enterprises. This number relates to contracts administered through our central system which excludes purchases made through the Government procurement card and miscellaneous transactions. It also excludes all contracts let by prime contractors through the supply chain.

Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse of the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft project has been to date; what estimate he has made of the final cost of the project; and what assessment he has made of the operational capability of the aircraft.

Peter Luff: The cost to the public purse to date for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft project is £53 million. That includes expenditure in the assessment phase and the current support phase cost.
	The current forecast whole life cost is £12 billion; that includes the private finance initiative (PFI) contract cost, and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) costs such as fuel and RAF manpower that fall outside the PFI contract.
	The flexibility within the contract allows the MOD to optimise value for money by exploiting the aircraft to the utmost. We are also investigating options with international partners on how best to utilise any spare capacity.
	The first two Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft, Airbus A330-200, converted to military specification are currently undergoing ground and flight testing ahead of the first aircraft coming into service later this year. The A330-200 is a modern aircraft delivering high levels of capability, reliability, flexibility and economy. It will provide the air-to-air refuelling and the passenger air transport capability that is currently provided by the Royal Air Force's fleet of VC10 and TriStar aircraft. The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft will also be capable of providing aeromedical evacuation of personnel.

Harrier Aircraft

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the most recent date was on which HMS Ark Royal went to sea with its Harrier aircraft; how many Harrier aircraft were on board; how many pilots of such aircraft were qualified to (a) land on and (b) take off from an aircraft carrier during (i) daylight and (ii) darkness; and how many sorties were flown;
	(2)  how many pilots of Harrier aircraft were qualified to (a) land on and (b) take off from an aircraft carrier during (i) daylight and (ii) darkness on 12 May 2011.

Nick Harvey: The most recent occasion on which HMS Ark Royal went to sea with Harrier GR9 aircraft embarked was on 19 November 2010. A total of four aircraft from 800 Naval Air Squadron and one (Fighter) Squadron Royal Air Force embarked the ship, and disembarked on 24 November, off the coast of Newcastle. No sorties were flown. Eight pilots were onboard the ship throughout this period: all were qualified to land and take off from the aircraft carrier during daylight and one was night qualified.
	Following the withdrawal from service of the Harrier force announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, Joint Force Harrier disbanded on 15 December 2010. By 12 May 2011, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force ex-Harrier pilots had been transferred to undertake alternative positions within their respective services.

Harrier Aircraft

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Harrier aircraft have been sold since the conclusion of the Strategic Defence and Security Review; to whom; and for what price.

Peter Luff: No Harrier aircraft have been sold. Disposal options are currently being considered but no decisions have yet been made.

Italy: Armed Forces

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel are currently stationed or deployed in Italy.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 14 July 2011
	The number of service personnel deployed or stationed in Italy as at 11 July 2011 are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of service personnel (1) 
			 Gioia Dell Colle, Italy 550 
			 Trapani, Italy 150 
			 Poggio Renatico, Italy 50 
			 Naples, Italy 100 
		
	
	
		
			 Other(2) 501 
			 (1 )Rounded to the nearest 50 personnel. (2 )Includes Defence Section personnel in support of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other standing liaison officer roles. 
		
	
	The precise number of personnel overseas fluctuates on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces, visits and a range of other factors. We do not, therefore, publish actual figures for personnel deployed.

Judicial Review

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent in each cost category on representation and related costs in relation to judicial reviews relating to inquests in each year since 2006-07.

Nick Harvey: Since 2006-07, there have been two judicial reviews arising from inquests into the deaths of members of the armed forces, those involving the deaths of Private Jason Smith and Cpl Dewi Pritchard. The Ministry of Defence (MOD)’s legal costs, spread over several years, totalled £308,812.00. In the Smith case the MOD also paid the claimant’s costs of £456,729.87.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what exit strategy has been determined for British troops serving in Libya.

Nick Harvey: UK forces, under NATO command, have been at the forefront of Operation Unified Protector, enforcing United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973. The operation will continue until the Libyan regime ceases to use violence against its own people.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons eight ships were refused entry into Libyan ports under NATO's Operation Unified Protector.

Nick Harvey: From 31 March to 7 July 2011 the NATO Operation Unified Protector, working closely with the shipping industry, has denied nine vessels entry or exit from Libyan ports in order to enforce the arms embargo established by UN Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011), modified by UN Security Council Resolution 1973 (2011).

Mull of Kintyre Review

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the oral statement of 13 July 2011, Official Report, columns 339-341, on the Mull of Kintyre review, from which departmental budget compensation will be paid.

Liam Fox: Compensation will be paid from the Ministry of Defence's centrally funded budget.

NATO Rapid Reaction Corps

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) number and (b) rank is of the UK personnel in HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. [Official Report, 21 October 2011, Vol. 533, c. 11MC.]

Nick Harvey: The number and rank/grade of UK military and civilian personnel in the HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Military rank Number of personnel 
			 Lieutenant General 1 
			 Major General 1 
			 Brigadier 5 
			 Colonel 11 
			 Lieutenant Colonel 23 
			 Major/Lieutenant Commander 76 
			 Captain 25 
			 Warrant Officer Class 2 19 
			 Warrant Officer Class 1 6 
			 Staff Sergeant 11 
			 Sergeant 18 
			 Corporal 27 
			 Lance Corporal 13 
			   
			 Civilian grades  
			 C2 1 
			 D 3 
			 D (Military Support Function) 1 
			 E1 9 
			 E2 1 
			 Industrial Skill Zone 2 1

NATO Rapid Reaction Corps

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current UK obligation is to the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 12 July 2011
	The Strategic Defence and Security Review confirmed the pivotal role of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) as part of the UK's contribution to NATO. The UK provides the peacetime Headquarters, majority of staff, communications and, in addition when deployed, life-support and strategic/operational movement.
	Just under 60% of the peacetime staff of HQ ARRC are from the UK and the UK's two combat divisions (1 (UK) Armoured Division and 3 (UK) Division) are assigned as subordinate formations. The UK also affiliates the majority of the ARRC's combat support and combat service support units.

Navy: Aircraft Carriers

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the length of time between completion and entry into service of the Royal Navy's second aircraft carrier.

Peter Luff: In general, Royal Navy ships undergo a series of sea trials to prove various aspects of the platform as they move from completion, which we have interpreted to mean contract acceptance date, into service. There is no set duration for this activity, it is tailored for each individual platform as requirements dictate.
	Investigations are under way to determine the optimum solution for converting one of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, including which ship should be converted. This work will consider the required trials package in each case and we expect to make our final decisions on carrier conversion in late 2012.

Navy: Aircraft Carriers

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department expects to spend on the Royal Navy's second aircraft carrier in each year it is not operational in order to enable future operational duties.

Peter Luff: No decisions have yet been taken as to which of the two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, will be used as the operational carrier and which will be placed into extended readiness. The costs of retaining a carrier in extended readiness are being investigated as part of our study work into conversion. Firm decisions on the conversion are expected in late 2012.

Schools: Finance

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in respect of which schools expenditure from the continuity of education allowance was incurred in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and (d) 2010-11.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 14 July 2011
	This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Tornado Aircraft

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to reduce the number of Tornado aircraft in the period to May 2015.

Peter Luff: Two Tornado squadrons, XIII Squadron, based at RAF Marham, and No. 14 Squadron, based at RAF Lossiemouth, were selected by the Air Force Board Standing Committee for disbandment by 1 June 2011. We expect to further reduce Tornado aircraft numbers gradually to coincide with the expected run down of operations in Afghanistan and the build-up of our Typhoon force.

Trident

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2011, Official Report, column 675W, on Trident, whether he has made an assessment of whether, if the funding allocated for the replacement of Trident were invested in other capabilities in the defence and security economy, including (a) intelligence services, (b) special forces, (c) the police and (d) other capabilities, a commensurate level of deterrence could be achieved.

Liam Fox: Our current analysis is that we cannot rule out the risk either that a major direct nuclear threat to the UK's vital interests will re-emerge or that new states will emerge that possess a more limited nuclear capability but nevertheless one that could pose a grave threat to our vital interests. We therefore see an enduring role for the UK's nuclear forces as an essential part of our capability for deterring nuclear-armed opponents. As stated in the 2006 White Paper "The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent" (Cm 6994) conventional capabilities cannot have the same deterrent effect as nuclear weapons.
	This remains Government policy.

Type 42 Destroyer

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the costs to his Department are of maintaining the Type 42 Destroyer fleet beyond its intended service life until the delivery of the Type 45 Destroyer.

Peter Luff: The cost of extending the Type 42 Destroyer fleet lifespan beyond its intended service life to coincide with the delivery of the six Type 45 Destroyers is estimated to be £195 million. This includes deep maintenance, planned maintenance, unplanned maintenance, manpower, spares and equipment.
	As confirmed by the National Audit Office in their 2009 report: Providing Anti-Air Warfare Capability: the type 45 Destroyer, this is not an additional cost to the Department because operating costs would have been incurred for the Type 45 destroyers if they had been delivered to their original timescales.

Type 42 Destroyer

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost to the public purse is of maintaining the Type 42 Destroyer fleet over its intended service life.

Peter Luff: The cost of maintaining the Type 42 Destroyer fleet of fourteen ships over its service life, from 1978 to 2013, is estimated to be £709 million.
	This estimate does not include running costs, naval base expenditure or disposal costs. Costs between 1978 and 1998 have been estimated using historical data on a pro-rata basis, as a more accurate estimate could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Costs from 1999 onwards are the final contract values for support maintenance. There are no further planned support periods after March 2011, so no costs were forecast after this date.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) hours flown and (b) strikes by unmanned aircraft there have been in Afghanistan in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) 2011 to date.

Nick Harvey: The numbers of hours flown by UK remotely piloted air systems (RPAS) and unmanned air systems (UAS) in Afghanistan, as at 1 July 2011, are shown in the following table. The UK did not have any RPAS or UAS deployed in Afghanistan prior to 2007.
	
		
			  Flying h ours (to the nearest hundred) 
			 Period (inclusive) Reaper RPAS Hermes 450 UAS Desert Hawk 3 UAS 
			 2007 300 1,700 0 
			 2008 2,800 7,300 1,800 
			 2009 4,600 9,800 2,800 
			 2010 10,300 14,700 4,300 
			 January to June 2011 5,600 6,300 2,500 
		
	
	Reaper, operated by the Royal Air Force, is the UK's only armed RPAS. It entered operational service in October 2007 in Afghanistan. The primary role of the Reaper system operated by the UK remains intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance but they have had the capability to employ air-to-ground weapons since May 2008. The numbers of weapons used by the Reaper remotely piloted air system in Afghanistan are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Period (inclusive) Number of weapons used 
			 May 2008 to December 2008 29 
			 January 2009 to December 2009 46 
			 January 2010 to December 2010 73 
			 January 2011 to 4 July 2011 30 
		
	
	Use of force remains closely regulated and the avoidance of civilian casualties is paramount. We carefully select the type of weapon in every engagement to ensure the most appropriate munition is used to deliver the required effect, while minimising the risk to civilians.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Work Programme

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent progress he has made on delivering the Work programme.

Chris Grayling: DWP launched the Work programme nationally in June. Just over 12 months from the start of policy design, all providers throughout Great Britain are now delivering personalised employment support to people at risk of long-term unemployment.

Employment: Colne Valley

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures are available to him to encourage local companies in Colne Valley constituency to assist young people to enter employment.

Chris Grayling: In Colne Valley Jobcentre Plus has been working successfully with local employers to promote new ways of helping young people into employment and five employers have already signed up to provide work experience placements.
	We are looking to Work programme providers to work closely with employers to help longer-term unemployed young people into sustained employment.

Disability Living Allowance

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his review of the mobility component of disability living allowance will conclude.

Maria Miller: We have announced that we would not remove the DLA mobility component from people in residential care from October 2012 and would consider this issue as part of our wider reform to introduce personal independence payment from April 2013, which is exactly what we are doing.
	It is only right that we consider carefully the needs of this particular group of people to understand their current circumstances before we come to any final decision on how best to address their needs. This will allow us to determine the extent to which there are overlaps in provision for mobility needs of people in residential care homes.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many single parents are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance.

Chris Grayling: In May 2011 there were 118,655 single parents in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance. The figure has been rounded to the nearest five.

Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission expects to publish its business plan for April 2011 to March 2012.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the child maintenance commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	.
	The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission's Delivery Plan 2011/12 was published on the Commission's website on 11 July 2011:
	http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/pdf/Delivery-plan-11-12.pdf
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Maintenance

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the number of parents owing money to the Child Support Agency who opt for self-employed status.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the child maintenance commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the number of parents owing money to the Child Support Agency who opt for self- employed status.
	The March 2011 Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics available at:
	http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/publications/stats0311.html
	states that in 8% of total live cases, the non-resident parent is self-employed.
	This figure includes cases administered on the CS2 and CSCS computer systems and excludes cases administered off the main computer system. By applying the 8% to the published caseload of 1,145,700 which includes off-system cases, approximately 91,800 cases involve self-employed non-resident parents.
	Of the 91,800 live cases where the non-resident parent is self-employed, approximately 70,300 cases owe outstanding child maintenance to either the parent with care or the Secretary of State.
	It should be noted that employment status is the latest employment status recorded on the CS2 and CSCS computer systems and may not be fully up to date.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Maintenance

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the impact of websites that promote self-employed status as a mechanism for avoiding or reducing payments to the Child Support Agency.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the child maintenance commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of websites that promote self-employed status as a mechanism for avoiding or reducing payments to the Child Support Agency.
	The Commission does monitor external websites that provide information about child maintenance, and no specific trends have been identified with regards to promoting self-employment as a means of avoiding or reducing maintenance payments.
	If a non-resident parent is self-employed, they still should pay child maintenance in the normal way. Self-employed earnings are usually taken from the self-assessment return that is submitted to HM Revenue and Customs, or from a tax calculation notice. This is consistent with the policy that, in a similar manner as for employed earners, the basis of the child maintenance liability of a self-employed earner is their taxable earnings.
	The Commission also has the power to request details of, and statements from, any accounts held by deposit takers in the name of the non-resident parent, including bank and building society accounts. This information can also be obtained from accountants, companies or partnerships with or for whom the non-resident parent works, a face-to-face interview, an inspector's visit, or a direct request to HM Revenue and Customs for self-assessment details where all other means to obtain the information have failed.
	Ultimately, if a non-resident parent fails to provide their earnings information, and it cannot be obtained through the methods outlined above, they may have both a default maintenance decision imposed by the Commission and a fine imposed by the courts. A default maintenance decision is a standard rate based on the number of children the non-resident parent must pay child maintenance for and is also fully enforceable.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Maintenance

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases within the Child Support Agency which have a nil liability relate to children who are (a) aged between 0 and five years, (b) aged between five and 10 years, (c) aged between 10 and 15 years and (d) aged more than 15 years; and how many such cases have been subject to a change of circumstances review since the child maintenance liability was first assessed.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the child maintenance commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases within the Child Support Agency which have a nil liability are (a) aged between 0 and five years, (b) aged between five and 10 years, (c) aged between 10 and 15 years and (d) aged more than 15 years; and how many such cases have been subject to a change of circumstances review since the child maintenance liability was first assessed.
	The latest case figures published in the Child Support Agency's Quarterly Summary of Statistics (QSS) show that there are 283,900 nil liability cases in the quarter ending March 2011. The latest version of the QSS is available in the House of Commons library or online at:
	http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/pdf/qss/qss-mar-2011.pdf
	The table below shows the age of these cases as at the end of March 2011 measured from the application start date of the case. The table also shows the number of cases which have had a subsequent assessment carried out following the initial assessment.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.
	
		
			 Subsequent assessment 
			 Age of case Yes No Total 
			 Less than five years 22,200 28,400 50,600 
			 Five-10 years 48,200 24,300 72,500 
		
	
	
		
			 10-15 years 91,200 14,800 106,000 
			 15 years plus 50,400 4,000 54,400 
			 Unknown 0 400 400 
			 Total 212,000 71,900 283,900 
			 Notes: 1. Figures include cases administered off the main computer system. 2. Age of cases administered off-system measured from application start date of the case as recorded on CS2 computer system prior to the case being progressed off system. 3. Cases with an unknown age are those cases administered off system which do not have an application start date recorded on the CS2 computer system. 4. A proportion of cases categorised as not having a subsequent assessment may actually have had a subsequent assessment recorded off system. This figure is therefore overstated.

Child Maintenance

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the five organisations to which the Child Maintenance Options Service most frequently refers callers through its helpline in instances where they need additional information and advice.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the child maintenance commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	.
	The Child Maintenance Options Service currently signposts, on average, over 25% of callers to other organisations for further information and advice
	Aside from the Child Support Agency, the five organisations that callers are most frequently referred to are Gingerbread, Community Legal Advice, Shelterline, HM Revenue and Customs and Citizens Advice.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Conditions of Employment

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many meetings officials of his Department have had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the Government's employment law review since May 2011.

Chris Grayling: The review of employment-related laws being co-ordinated by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a cross-Government initiative.
	As part of the review the Department for Work and Pensions is considering areas of regulation that affect employers and their employees. My Department has:
	commissioned an independent review of elements of its workplace pension reform;
	launched the joint DWP/BIS independent sickness absence review; and
	launched the Löfstedt Review into health and safety legislation.
	The Department will also be looking at ideas that emerge from the Red Tape Challenge. Relevant Ministers and officials are in contact with BIS on a regular basis in taking forward all the ongoing workstreams.

Credit Unions

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on provision of advice to the public on the use of credit unions.

Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions supports organisations like credit unions that offer affordable financial services to people who would otherwise be unable to access them; helping people to save, open bank accounts, pay off debts and learn to manage their finances. Subject to a successful feasibility study which concludes in October 2011, a new modernisation and expansion fund of up to £73 million over the next four years will support those organisations which are ready and prepared to expand their service to a million more people.
	DWP advisers provide benefit recipients with impartial information and guidance, signposting customers to organisations such as credit unions, where this is appropriate.

Departmental Manpower

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff his Department and its agencies employ at each pay band.

Chris Grayling: The number of staff employed by the Department and its agencies at each pay band at 31 March 2011, the latest published information, is set out in the following tables.
	For comparison purposes the tables show staffing information in headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE) format.
	
		
			 Table 1: DWP staffing by business and grade as at 31 March 2011 
			 Headcount (1) 
			  Pay band  
			 Business area A/AA B/AO C/EO D/HEO E/SEO F/Grade 7 G/Grade 6 SCS Not recorded Total 
			 Jobcentre Plus 2,135 39,884 33,437 4,711 1,122 379 143 39 3 81,853 
			 Pension, Disability and Carers Service 1,262 7,570 4,721 718 299 111 60 19 1 14,761 
			 Shared Services 333 2,901 839 293 135 67 19 10 1 4,598 
			 Corporate Centre 51 508 2,518 2,224 1,216 1,051 460 189 16 8,233 
		
	
	
		
			 DWP total 3,781 50,863 41,515 7,946 2,772 1,608 682 257 21 109,445 
			 (1) Total count of staff based on each employee counting as 1. Notes: 1. Staff numbers derived from monthly Point in Time Extract from the Department's personnel system and are consistent with Office for National Statistics definitions. 2. Not recorded refers to a small number of cases where the grade was not recorded on the payroll record at the time the data were extracted from the Department's personnel system. 3. Pay band abbreviations: A/AA—Administrative Assistant B/AO—Administrative Officer C/EO—Executive Officer D/HEO—Higher Executive Officer S/SEO—Senior Executive Officer SCS—Senior Civil Service. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: DWP staffing by business and grade as at 31 March 2011 
			 Full-time e quivalent (1) 
			  Pay band  
			 Business a rea A/AA B/AO C/EO D/HEO E/SEO F/Grade 7 G/Grade 6 SCS Not recorded Total 
			 Jobcentre Plus 1,854 34,839 30,090 4,510 1,091 372 141 39 3 72,939 
			 Pension Disability and Carers Service 1,086 6,680 4,212 685 289 109 59 19 1 13,139 
			 Shared Services 276 2,525 759 274 128 65 19 10 1 4,057 
			 Corporate Centre 46 469 2,365 2,121 1,169 1,018 440 185 16 7,828 
			 DWP total 3,262 44,512 37,426 7,590 2,678 1,564 658 252 20 97,963 
			 (1) Headcount converted to full-time equivalent. Notes: 1. Staff numbers derived from monthly Point in Time Extract from the Department's personnel system and are consistent with Office for National Statistics definitions. 2. Full-time equivalent (FTE) figures may not sum due to FTE rounding. 3. Not recorded refers to a small number of cases where the grade was not recorded on the payroll record at the time the data were extracted from the Department's personnel system. Pay band abbreviations: A/AA—Administrative Assistant B/AO—Administrative Officer C/EO—Executive Officer D/HEO—Higher Executive Officer S/SEO—Senior Executive Officer SCS—Senior Civil Service.

Derby

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date he last visited Derby in an official capacity.

Chris Grayling: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), attended regional Cabinet in Derby on Monday 7 March 2011.

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of the 50,000 households liable for the household benefit cap who are not to be subject to work search requirements as a condition of the benefit.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available as sample sizes are too small to yield reliable results for those who may be subject to work search requirements, as opposed to those who may not.

Housing Benefit: Scotland

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many tenants of housing associations and co-operatives in each local authority area in Scotland receive full or partial housing benefit; and what proportion of such tenants in each such area have their payments made directly to the landlord.

Steve Webb: Information on housing benefit recipients in receipt of full and partial housing benefit is not available.
	The proportion of tenants of registered social landlords and claiming housing benefit in each local authority area in Scotland that have their payments made directly to the landlord is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Payment destination for tenants of registered social landlords claiming housing benefit in Scottish local authorities 
			 Percentage 
			  Payment destination  
			  Direct to claimant Direct to landlord All 
			 Aberdeen City 11 89 100 
			 Aberdeenshire 14 86 100 
		
	
	
		
			 Angus 17 83 100 
			 Argyll and Bute 8 92 100 
			 Clackmannanshire 5 95 100 
			 Dumfries and Galloway 3 97 100 
			 Dundee City 7 93 100 
			 East Ayrshire 3 97 100 
			 East Dunbartonshire 7 93 100 
			 East Lothian 18 82 100 
			 East Renfrewshire 14 86 100 
			 Edinburgh, City of 8 92 100 
			 Eilean Siar 3 97 100 
			 Falkirk 6 94 100 
			 Fife 9 91 100 
			 Glasgow City 1 99 100 
			 Highland 8 92 100 
			 Inverclyde 3 97 100 
			 Midlothian 9 91 100 
			 Moray 14 86 100 
			 North Ayrshire 2 98 100 
			 North Lanarkshire 3 97 100 
			 Orkney Islands 15 85 100 
			 Perth and Kinross 13 87 100 
			 Renfrewshire 3 97 100 
			 Scottish Borders 10 90 100 
			 Shetland Islands 12 88 100 
			 South Ayrshire 3 97 100 
			 South Lanarkshire 4 96 100 
			 Stirling 10 90 100 
			 West Dunbartonshire 3 97 100 
			 West Lothian 8 92 100 
			 All 4 96 100 
			 Notes: 1. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole percentage. 2. Row percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding. 3. Cases with unknown payment destination are excluded from the analysis. This affects a relatively small number of cases. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract April 2011

Industrial Health and Safety: Offshore Workers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the effectiveness of the Health and Safety Executive in safeguarding oil and gas workers in the British sector of the North sea; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The operators of offshore installations have the primary responsibility for management and control of risks to oil and gas workers in the British sector of the North sea. Regulatory oversight of this is a priority area for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). in January 2011, the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee reported that the UK has high offshore regulatory standards and both the European Commission and the US Presidential Commission Report on the Gulf of Mexico incident have stated that the UK regime is a good framework for others to follow.
	Statistical trends indicate that injury rates and hydrocarbon releases offshore are declining. However, the hostile nature of the working environment and the ageing nature of the UK's offshore installations mean that there is no room for complacency by the industry or the regulator. HSE's offshore inspection and enforcement activities include targeted programmes of work on asset integrity, (which address issues about managing ageing plant and extending the life of offshore infrastructure), improving the offshore safety culture and effective industry leadership. HSE is challenging the industry to do more to tackle hydrocarbon releases.
	There is also currently an independently-led, review of the UK offshore oil and gas regulatory regime in the light of the lessons from the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. This is due to report later this year.

Jobcentre Plus: Manpower

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will estimate likely changes in trends in the number of staff employed by Jobcentre Plus in (a) Glasgow, (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain on fixed-term contracts over the next three financial years;
	(2)  what changes in trends in the number of staff employed by Jobcentre Plus in (a) Glasgow, (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain on fixed-term contracts there have been over the last three financial years;
	(3)  how many staff are employed by Jobcentre Plus on fixed-term contracts in (a) Glasgow, (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain.

Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Darra Singh
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking: if he will estimate likely changes in trends in the number of staff employed by Jobcentre Plus in (a) Glasgow (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain on fixed-term contracts over the next three financial years.
	What changes in trends in the number of staff employed by Jobcentre Plus in (a) Glasgow (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain on fixed-term contracts there have been over the last three financial years.
	How many staff are employed by Jobcentre Plus on fixed-term contracts in (a) Glasgow (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain. These are issues that fall within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	In response to Question 1, Jobcentre Plus recruited extra people on fixed term contracts to address the impact of the economic downturn. It was anticipated that increased workloads would be temporary and it was always planned to reduce numbers as the growth in unemployment slowed. Jobcentre Plus continues to keep its workloads and staffing levels under close scrutiny. That includes the need to extend Fixed Term Appointments (FTAs). At this point, Jobcentre Plus does not plan to recruit further FTAs and expects to release the majority of existing FTAs during 2011/12 as they reach the end of their fixed term contracts. This will be kept under review.
	In response to Question 2, the following table shows the trend in the numbers of staff employed on FTA contracts in Jobcentre Plus by taking the position at March in each of the last three financial years. This data is taken from our internal systems and the numbers based on the latest information we hold. Some people will have worked in more than one period and will therefore be counted in both. The information is set out on a staff in post basis, i.e. employees are counted as a single unit irrespective of the hours they work.
	The changes in numbers between years reflect the initial increase in workloads as a result of the economic downturn and the subsequent reductions as workloads declined.
	When we report against Glasgow it is on the basis of the operational district.
	
		
			  31 March 2011 31 March 2010 31 March 2009 
			 Glasgow 228 368 38 
			 Scotland 727 1,415 216 
			 Jobcentre Plus (National) 7,273 13,617 1,890 
		
	
	In response to Question 3, the information shown under the column headed ‘31 March 2011’ in the above table was the number of staff employed by Glasgow, Scotland and Jobcentre Plus nationally on fixed term contracts as at March 2011.

National Insurance: Foreign Nationals

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many national insurance numbers were issued to foreign nationals in each local authority area in (a) the last year for which figures are available and (b) each of the last four quarters for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The information requested has been placed in the Library for both Houses.

Pensioners

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to improve the living standards of pensioners.

Steve Webb: We have restored the earnings link for the basic state pension and given a triple guarantee that the basic state pension will increase by the highest of the growth in average earnings, price increases (as measured by the consumer prices index) or 2.5%. The restoration of the earnings link and the triple guarantee will benefit both existing and future pensioners by providing a more generous state pension, giving a solid financial foundation from the state, which is essential as part of the pensions system.
	We are protecting key support for older people: free eye tests; free prescription charges; free bus passes; free television licences for the over 75s; and winter fuel payments will remain exactly as budgeted for by the previous Government. We have permanently increased the cold weather payment from £8.50 to £25.
	We are introducing automatic enrolment into workplace pensions from 2012. This is a central element of our strategy to reinvigorate private pension savings and aims to harness inertia and bring about a change in people's behaviour in saving for retirement. We expect this to radically increase the number of people saving into a pension and to lead to between 5 million and 8 million people newly saving or saving more in all forms of workplace pension schemes.
	We are looking at options for delivering a simpler and fairer state pension which rewards those who do the right thing and save for their retirement and is sustainable for future generations. Two options for reform of the state pension were published in a Green Paper "A State Pension for the 21st Century". The consultation period ended on 24 June. We are currently considering the consultation responses and will reply in due course.
	Living standards are about more than income. A range of policies has also been put in place to improve the lives of people over 60 years of age. The Government provided £1 million in 2010-11 to fund Active at 60 Community Agents to help people who are at most risk of longer-term loneliness and social isolation remain active, independent and positively engaged with society following retirement. In 2010 we introduced Ageing Well, a new programme designed to support local authorities to improve their services for older people.

Pensioners: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the average monetary value of benefits in kind provided by his Department to (a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples in York in respect of (i) NHS services, (ii) social services, (iii) travel concessions, (iv) television licences, (v) insulation, home repairs and improvement grants and (vi) other services in each year since 2005.

Steve Webb: A wide range of services and benefits in kind are available to older people and these are administered both centrally and locally by a number of Government Departments. As a result, the information is not available in the format requested: some information is not collected and some could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information which is available is given as follows.
	(i) NHS services
	People aged 60 and over are able to claim free prescriptions and eye tests on the grounds of age. Detailed information on prescription charges is not held in the format requested.
	Free NHS sight tests were made available to people aged 60 and over from 1 April 1999. Information on the average value of NHS sight tests provided to people aged 60 and over within the area of the former York and Selby PCT is only available on a consistent basis for one year 2005-06 and is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial year Number of free NHS sight tests given to people aged 60 and over Estimated cost of NHS sight tests to people aged 60 and over(£) 
			 2005-06 25,057 460,798 
		
	
	The PCT was restructured in October 2006 and no equivalent data for 2006-07 are available. Information for 2007-08 to 2009-10 is available for the North Yorkshire and York PCT area and is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial year Number of free NHS sight tests given to people aged 60 and over Estimated cost of NHS sight tests to people aged 60 and over (£) 
			 2007-08 88,428 1,708,429 
			 2008-09 90,380 1,789,524 
			 2009-10 89,805 1,819,449 
		
	
	There is no automatic entitlement for pensioners to NHS optical vouchers or free dental treatment. Individuals may qualify for these benefits if they are in receipt of certain qualifying benefits, or if they have been assessed as eligible for assistance under the NHS low income scheme. Information on the value of such NHS services provided to patients of pensionable age who qualify on the basis of their personal economic circumstances is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	(ii) Social Services
	The following table shows the gross current expenditure by York council on social services for people aged 65 or over from 2005-06 to 2009-10.
	
		
			 Gross current expenditure (1)  by York Council on older people (aged 65 or over) 
			 £000 
			 Year (1 April to 31 March) Gross current expenditure 
			 2005-06 27,500 
			 2006-07 27,600 
			 2007-08 27,600 
			 2008-09 30,800 
			 2009-10 32,439 
			 (1) Gross expenditure includes income from client contributions, but excludes capital charges and certain income items which count as expenditure elsewhere in the public sector, such as contributions from primary care trusts. This is to avoid double counting within the aggregate public sector accounts of the money involved. Notes: 1. From 2002-03 onwards, the data include clients who transferred to council with social services responsibilities (CSSR) support on 8 April 2002, who were formally in receipt of higher rates of income support under the Department for Work and Pensions preserved rights scheme. 2. From 2003-04, additional funding was made available to CSSRs via the Supporting People grant. Source: R03 and PSS EX1 returns 
		
	
	(iii) Travel Concessions
	The statutory minimum travel concession, introduced in April 2008, gives those of pensionable aged and eligible disabled people free off-peak local bus travel in any part of England. The Government provide around £1 billion a year to fund the concession.
	Travel concession schemes are provided through local authorities, which have flexibility to enhance their schemes to offer more than the statutory minimum, so there are local variations in what is offered and take-up of concessionary travel also varies from one area to another. Therefore it is not possible to quantify the value of the benefit in kind in a specific local authority area.
	(iv) Television Licences
	Free television licences for people aged 75 or over were introduced in November 2000. TV Licensing, who administer free licences as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of licences issued. However, figures, shown in the following table, are available for the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over receiving winter fuel payments in York local authority. These people would be eligible for a free television licence.
	
		
			 York local authority area 
			   TV licences fees (£ 
			  Number of households with someone aged 75 or over Colour Black and White 
			 2005-06 11,930 126.50 42.00 
			 2006-07 12,070 131.50 44.00 
			 2007-08 12,240 135.50 45.50 
			 2008-09 12,180 139.50 47.00 
			 2009-10 12,290 142.50 48.00 
		
	
	(v) Insulation
	The Warm Front scheme is one of the Government's key programme for tackling fuel poverty in vulnerable households in the private sector in England. Warm Front provides grants for heating, insulation and energy efficiency measures. The following table displays the number of pensioner households that have received Warm Front assistance in the York local authority area since 2005, and the average spend on each of those households.
	
		
			  Number of single pensioner households assisted in York Average spend per single pensioner household assisted (£) Number of two pensioners households assisted in York Average spend per two pensioner household assisted (£) 
			 2005-06 199 778.45 102 765.08 
			 2006-07 364 753.92 252 657.25 
			 2007-08 390 1,020.33 297 998.20 
			 2008-09 199 1,741.24 155 1,612.50 
			 2009-10 142 1,639.09 103 1,542.74 
		
	
	In addition, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), an obligation on energy suppliers to deliver carbon savings in the household sector, is the primary existing driver of household energy saving measures—especially insulation. To ensure an equitable distribution of the benefits, the scheme requires a proportion of the carbon savings be achieved in the homes of ‘priority' lower income households (aged 70 and over or on certain means tested benefits). In the first two years of the scheme, between April 2008 and March 2010, 3,861 priority group households in York benefited from subsidised loft and/or cavity wall insulation under the scheme. CERT runs to December 2012.

Pensions

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people who would be affected by bringing forward by two years the date of the planned increase in the state pension.

Steve Webb: Bringing forward by two years the increase in the state pension age to 67, from 2036 to 2034, would affect 1.8 million persons.

Personal Income

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what uses his Department has made of the annual survey of hours and earnings data produced by the Office of National Statistics in the last three years.

Chris Grayling: The Department draws on both longitudinal and cross-sectional information from the annual survey of hours and earnings (ASHE) for a number of purposes. Key uses include:
	helping to inform workplace pension reform, for example as part of the Making Automatic Enrolment Work (MAEW) review;
	monitoring trends in employee pension provision, membership and contributions;
	informing impact and equality assessments;
	helping to forecast state pension expenditure and caseloads;
	modelling the impact of policy changes on the pension landscape;
	supporting the evaluation of workplace pension reforms;
	helping to inform policy on sickness absence from work and statutory maternity payments.

Prisons: Females

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women with children aged (a) up to two, (b) between three and five, (c) between five and 10, (d) between 10 and 15 and (e) between 15 and 18 years have been in prison for (i) up to six months, (ii) between six months and one year, (iii) between one and two years, (iv) between two and six years and (v) more than six years in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: I have been asked to reply.
	Details on the children on the children of prisoners are not routinely collected, and limited disproportionate cost by analysing information held on offender files or on local data systems, validating it, and then collating it in a common format in order to provide a response.

Social Security Benefits

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on linking benefit payments to education training programmes.

Chris Grayling: From 1 August a recipient of jobseeker’s allowance or employment and support allowance (work-related activity group) in England may be required by a Jobcentre Plus adviser, or by a provider working on behalf of Jobcentre Plus, to attend work-related education training programmes or careers advice. Failure to attend without good reason would lead to a benefit sanction. This is not the case at present. The change is intended to improve take-up and completion of work-related training so that lack of basic work skills do not hinder the claimant’s opportunities in the labour market, thus enabling the claimant to find a job and keep it as soon as possible.
	Jobcentre Plus advisers and providers will take into account a claimant’s circumstances and skills needs and only consider a mandatory referral to training activity which will aid the claimant’s movement into work. Before a mandatory referral to training can be made, the skills provider must have confirmed that they are able and willing to accept the claimant on to an appropriate course. Units of accredited training will be offered as well as longer courses and the content of the course will depend upon the identified job goals and skills need of the claimant.

Social Security Benefits

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2011, Official Report, column 659W, on social security benefits, on what estimate of learner numbers his Department has made funding decisions for the number of people on active benefit who have skills needs.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions does not make funding decisions with respect to training for people on active benefits who have skills needs. In England, funding decisions are taken by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. In Scotland and Wales, these decisions are a devolved policy area. The Department for Work and Pensions works with the relevant skills funding bodies to ensure that appropriate support is in place for benefit recipients across Great Britain.
	The Department for Work and Pensions funds the Work programme, which is delivered through contracted providers. Work programme providers are paid for getting people into work and keeping them there, which means there are strong incentives for delivery partners to provide skills training where that support would help a customer move into work and keep them in work. The Department has not specified what level of funding within the Work programme should be allocated to skills training and it will be for providers to decide what support is needed.
	The meaning of the term active benefit has been taken as that given in the answer of 27 June 2011, Official Report, column 610W, on social security benefits.

Social Security Benefits

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2011, Official Report, column 659W, on social security benefits, how many people in receipt of benefits and entitled to fee remission for education and training will cease to be so eligible from August 2011.

Chris Grayling: People in receipt of active benefits will see no change in their eligibility for fee remission for employment-related training from 1 August 2011.
	From 1 August, people in England in receipt of other benefits will be able to receive full fee remission for training for fully-funded basic literacy and numeracy training up to a first full NVQ level two, while young adults aged 19- to 24-years-old will be able to receive full fee remission for a first full NVQ level three qualification. They will not receive full fee remission for other courses. The number of people on these other benefits who would normally undertake training in other courses could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The meaning of the term active benefit has been taken as that given in the answer of 27 June 2011, Official Report, column 610W, on social security benefits.

Social Security Benefits: Scotland

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether payments relating to local welfare assistance in Scotland will be made from a fixed financial allocation or will be demand-led.

Steve Webb: The programme funding for the new local welfare assistance, including in Scotland, will be cash limited.
	Details of the funding are set out in the Government response to the call for evidence “Local support to replace Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans for living expenses” which was published on 23 June.
	The Government response is available in the Library and can be accessed on the Department for Work and Pensions website.
	www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2011/local-support-replace-ccg-cl.shtml

Unemployment

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the average cost to the public purse of a job loss or redundancy (a) nationally, (b) in Derby and (c) in the east midlands.

Edward Davey: I have been asked to reply.
	There are always redundancies, job losses and separations. For example, seasonally adjusted figures from the Labour Force Survey indicated that there were 144,000 redundancies in the UK in March to May 2011. The number of redundancies has fallen substantially since the recession.
	It is not possible to estimate the overall average cost to the public purse because it will depend on the state of the economy, whether the redundant person takes up a benefit and how long they remain on benefit before they leave—either to go into work or another destination. For example, even though there were 144,000 redundancies, overall employment during the period March to May 2011 rose—by 50,000—because the numbers moving into jobs exceeded the numbers that left—including those made redundant.
	There is, however, a direct cost of redundancy to the public purse. Businesses are required by law to make statutory redundancy payments. Businesses bear the costs of these redundancy payments except in cases where the business becomes insolvent. In such cases the Insolvency Service bears the costs of the statutory redundancy payments. The redundancy payments made by the service to ex employees of insolvent employers during the period Apr 2009 to March 2010 amounted to £270,012,000.

Universal Credit

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the impact assessment in respect of universal credit, what assumptions his Department made in respect of (a) take-up of entitlement, (b) level of entitlement, (c) child care costs and levels of support for child care costs and (d) other factors in making its estimate that 350,000 children and over 600,000 working age adults would be lifted out of poverty as a result of the introduction of universal credit.

Maria Miller: The estimate of numbers lifted out of poverty are based on an assessment of the impact of universal credit using DWP’s Policy Simulation Model. This model uses data from the 2008-09 Family Resources Survey (FRS) and uprates incomes and demographics to the relevant year using projections from the Office for Budget Responsibility. The model is able to assess entitlement to universal credit, because of the wide range of personal characteristics reported to the FRS by respondents.
	The model allows for the fact that currently not all benefits or tax credits are taken up. In the future it is assumed that those currently taking up some, but not all of their benefit entitlements will take up in full under universal credit; and of those taking up none of their current entitlement, around half will do so under the new system.
	The impact assessment did not include any impacts from changing child care payment arrangements, as the policy design was not finalised at that time. These impacts will be included in a future iteration of the universal credit impact assessment, once the relevant policy announcements have been made.

Universal Credit

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of housing benefit staff that may be made redundant under proposals to introduce universal credit; and what his estimate is of the cost of such redundancies to (a) local authorities, (b) housing associations and (c) private contractors.

Steve Webb: It is still too early to say how many staff and what skills and experience will be required for universal credit. Decisions about TUPE and redundancy cannot be made until there is much more definition around the specific roles required to deliver the new universal credit. Although it is anticipated that fewer staff will be required compared to the legacy benefits, it is too early to say which staff and organisations will be affected. The impact on local authority staff will be affected by the design of the council tax benefit replacement, and decisions about the delivery model for universal credit.

Universal Credit

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many housing benefit staff employed by (a) local authorities, (b) housing associations and (c) contractors he expects will transfer to his Department under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 to administer universal credit;
	(2)  how many staff will be needed to assess housing costs following the introduction of universal credit.

Steve Webb: The Welfare Reform White Paper sets out that the Department for Work and Pensions will be responsible for organising the delivery of universal credit. It also states that we will continue to pay housing benefit to working age customers until we can migrate them successfully on to universal credit, currently expected to be by October 2017. We have yet to settle on the precise details of how the transition will work, and the effects on housing benefits staff. This approach will ensure an orderly transition and that we have people with relevant skills and experience to support claimants both in work and out of work, as they migrate to the new credit.
	We will continue to work with colleagues in HM Revenue and Customs and local authorities to test new ways of working and consider how, in the longer term, we can build on the best capabilities of current organisations to provide a consistently excellent service to claimants and ensure value for money.

Universal Credit

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the effect on the number of local housing offices of the introduction of universal credit.

Steve Webb: The provision of housing advice and support is the responsibility of local authorities who can choose to configure their services in the ways best suited to the needs of their communities. Decisions about the number of local housing offices in the future will be a decision for them.

Universal Credit

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the assets and systems currently used to provide the housing benefit service will transfer from local authorities, housing associations and contractors to his Department under proposals for the universal credit; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: The systems and processes for universal credit are still under development and the requirements will depend on future delivery options. As many local authorities use the same assets and systems to provide council tax and housing benefit, decisions about the assets and systems cannot be made until the future design of the council tax benefit is known.

Vacancies: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of job vacancies advertised in Jobcentre Plus branches in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) south London and (c) Greater London in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. member with the information requested.
	Letter from Darra Singh
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what recent estimate he has made of the number of job vacancies advertised in Jobcentre Plus branches in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) south London and (c) Greater London in the latest period for which figures are available.
	On 8 July 2011, there were 317 vacancies advertised at Bexleyheath Jobcentre Plus.
	On the same date there were 3,344 vacancies advertised in Jobcentre Plus offices within the South London District of Jobcentre Plus and a total of 15,049 vacancies advertised with Jobcentre Plus offices throughout the London region.
	Please note there may be more than one job per vacancy advertised.

Welfare State: Reform

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the 
	(1)  conclusions and recommendations of the report by Sheffield Hallam university on the effects on Wales of the Government’s proposed welfare reforms;
	(2)  impact of his proposed welfare reforms on people in Wales.

Chris Grayling: The Welfare Reform Bill, introduced in the Commons on 16 February 2011, makes the most fundamental reforms to the social security system for 60 years. It will deliver a system that is simpler, fairer and ensures that work always pays.
	Alongside our programme of reform which will help move more people closer to the labour market, the Government have taken action to stimulate a sustained recovery in the economy and labour market built around private sector investment, enterprise, a simplified tax regime and the removal of unnecessary regulations that stifle growth.
	The latest labour market statistics show that around 500,000 private sector jobs have been created in the past year. The figures also show that in the UK employment has increased by over 300,000 and in Wales there are 31,000 more people in work than last year.
	No separate analysis of the Sheffield Hallam report has been undertaken. However, a full impact assessment of our reform programme, including equality impact assessments, was published alongside the Bill.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Community Relations

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions his Department has had on the effects on the promotion of collaborative working on strategic decision-making of revoking the statutory guidance, Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities.

Bob Neill: Much of the statutory guidance was redundant following the dismantling of Local Area Agreements, revision of Best Value guidance and the Secretary of State's decision to repeal the Duty to Involve and the Duty to Prepare a Sustainable Community Strategy.
	Revocation of this guidance and associated duties enables local authorities to innovate and work in new ways to serve their local communities. We want to encourage authorities and civil society to collaborate more, including greater involvement for voluntary groups in the design and running of public services. In this context, we recently consulted on light touch statutory guidance on the Best Value duty setting out some reasonable expectations of the way authorities should work with voluntary and community groups and small businesses when facing difficult funding decisions. The consultation closed on 14 June and we expect to provide a Government response and publish final guidance this summer.

Conditions of Employment

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether officials of his Department have had recent discussions with the Rural Communities Policy Unit in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
	(2)  how many meetings officials of his Department have had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the Government's employment law review since May 2011.

Bob Neill: Officials within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet colleagues from other Departments to discuss a range of matters.

Country Parks: Gloucestershire

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received on the sale by Gloucestershire county council of a country park to the Watermark Group; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: We are not aware of any representations on this matter.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has issued any guidance to (a) local authorities or (b) other bodies on the generation of low-carbon energy on their estates.

Gregory Barker: I have been asked to reply.
	In March, DECC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Local Government Group. The Local Government Group believes that local authorities now have the tools and the appetite to deliver low carbon solutions on their estates and across the local area. Many of these tools have been developed in the ongoing partnership between DECC and LGG.
	The Local Carbon Framework (LCF) pilot programme worked with nine LA areas (30 authorities in total) to identify what works at what spatial level and begin to develop templates for action on carbon for all LAs. The results of this programme will be widely disseminated to local authorities by October.
	In addition, the Community Energy Online (CEO) portal, which DECC launched in November 2010 points to case studies and guidance on how to develop a renewable energy project both for local authorities and for their communities. DECC is also developing a national heat map, which will be available through CEO to enable local authorities to identify heat demand in their areas and develop renewable solutions such as district heating.
	The Climate Change Skills fund within the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) has also provided training for local authority staff and councillors including on community engagement on renewable energy, Plan LoCaL, and events are now being delivered locally across the country.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the carbon dioxide emissions from his Department in (a) June 2010 and (b) June 2011.

Bob Neill: The carbon dioxide emissions from the Department for Communities and Local Government in June 2010 and June 2011 are as follows:
	
		
			  Tonnes CO 2 
			 June 2010 680 
			 June 2011 496 
		
	
	The Department has exceeded the Prime Minister's target of reducing carbon emissions by 10% in 2010-11, achieving a reduction of 18%, and is now focused on the Government's further agenda to reduce carbon emissions by 25% by 2015.

Departmental Official Cars

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to his Department and its predecessors was of the provision of ministerial cars in each financial year between 2000-01 and 2010-11; how many (a) cars for the exclusive use of Ministers and (b) ministerial car journeys were paid for by his Department in each such year; what the average cost to his Department of a ministerial car journey was in each such year; and what steps his Department has taken to reduce the cost of ministerial cars since his appointment.

Bob Neill: Information on the cost and number of ministerial cars is published in the annual written ministerial statement by the Department of Transport, details of which can be found within the Library of the House. A written ministerial statement covering the financial year 2010-11 for all Departments will be published in due course.
	For ease of reference I have tabulated costs relating to this Department. Further to my written answer of 17 June 2011, Official Report, columns 977-78W, this includes revised costs of ministerial cars used by DCLG Ministers between 12 May 2010 and 31 March 2011 based on updated management information. This represents a significant reduction in the level of spend on ministerial cars compared to the level inherited from the last Administration.
	
		
			 Financial year £ 
			 2005-06 383,400 
			 2006-07 383,400 
			 2007-08 401,400 
			 2008-09 418,300 
			 2009-10 488,300 
			 2010-11 (1)52,639 
			  (2)268,952 
			 (1) To 12 May 2010 (2) From 12 May 2010 to 31 March 2011 
		
	
	Information prior to 2005 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information relating to individual ministerial car journeys prior to September 2010 is not available as there was no requirement to collect these data.
	Information relating to the number of ministerial car journeys made since the introduction of the ‘on-demand’ ministerial car service on 6 September 2010 and up until 31 March 2011 is as follows:
	
		
			 Department for Communities and Local Government 
			  Number 
			 2010  
			 September 63 
			 October 62 
			 November 101 
			 December 63 
			   
			 2011  
			 January 65 
			 February 80 
			 March 123 
			 Total 557 
		
	
	The Department now retains one allocated car. The Department's five other allocated cars have been given up and Ministers now use a pool car service on demand provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Electric Vehicles: Planning Permission

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable he has set for the establishment of permitted development rights for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle charging points.

Bob Neill: My Department is committed to amending the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 to introduce permitted development rights for electric vehicle charging points as part of our agenda to support renewable energy and low carbon technologies. This will be done at the earliest opportunity.

Fire Services

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to enable improved sharing of (a) information and (b) operating practices between fire and rescue services.

Bob Neill: It is for each fire and rescue authority to decide the type and level of information it may choose to share with other fire and rescue authorities or partner agencies. Fire and rescue authorities have responsibility as with other local authorities for the use and protection of personal and secure data and information. The Government have produced guidance, to assist fire and rescue authorities to comply with the relevant legislation.
	The Government's expectation was laid out in the National Framework (2008-11) where fire and rescue authorities must:
	“Have in place systematic arrangements to ensure incident and safety event outcomes inform the ongoing development of safe systems of work and training and development of staff. This should include the sharing of risk critical information on a regional/national basis when appropriate.”
	The chief fire and rescue adviser has responsibility for the production of national operational guidance for the fire and rescue service. Systems are in place to gather information from operational incidents to determine and refresh such guidance where appropriate.

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what plans he has for future provision of (a) fire appliances and (b) emergency equipment to fire brigades in (i) London and (ii) Lincolnshire; [R]
	(2)  what recent representations he has received on the future provision of (a) fire appliances and (b) emergency equipment to fire brigades in (i) London and (ii) Lincolnshire; [R]
	(3)  what recent assessment he has made of likely future provision of (a) fire appliances and (b) emergency equipment to fire brigades in (i) London and (ii) Lincolnshire. [R]

Bob Neill: The provision of fire appliances and their associated equipment is the responsibility of individual fire and rescue authorities. I have had a number of representations regarding the current arrangements for ownership and management of vehicles and equipment in London and Lincolnshire.

Fire Services: Pensions

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the viability of the Firefighters' Pension Scheme if there is a drop-out rate of 10 per cent. or more.

Bob Neill: In his interim report, Lord Hutton of Furness recommended increasing employee contributions as the cost of public service pensions had increased by a third due to improving longevity and this additional cost had fallen primarily on taxpayers. The Government accepted Lord Hutton's rationale and, at the spending review, announced the intention to implement progressive increases to employee contribution rates in public sector pension schemes, equivalent to 3% on average to be phased in from April 2012.
	The Treasury published an estimate of likely opt-out rates at the spending review:
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_policycostings.pdf
	which has been scrutinised by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility.
	To minimise opt-outs occurring, any changes to the firefighters' pension schemes will be phased and progressive, so that higher earners contribute at a higher rate than lower earners. Proposals for future changes to contribution rates for members of the firefighters' pension schemes will be issued for consultation later this year.

Non-domestic Rates: Sunderland

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consultation his Department undertook with (a) Sunderland City Council and (b) the Local Government Group prior to the Deputy Prime Minister's announcement on the future of the national non-domestic rating pool.

Bob Neill: The Local Growth White Paper, “Realising every place's potential”, published on 28 October 2010, sought comments on the possibility of allowing councils to keep locally raised non domestic rates. The Local Government Resource Review's consideration of proposals for business rates retention has taken account of the response from Sunderland City Council to the Local Growth White Paper and regular discussions with the Local Government Group, both through a formal Working Group and through bilateral meetings. We will continue with that engagement as the proposals are taken forward.

Regional Development Agencies: Assets

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had on the establishment of local committees for the Homes and Communities Agency's management of former assets of regional development agencies;
	(2)  whether he has had recent discussions with representatives of the Homes and Communities Agency on the transfer of assets held by the regional development agencies.

Grant Shapps: I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement made by the Minister for Business and Enterprise, my hon. Friend the Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr Prisk), on 6 July 2011, Official Report, columns 95-96WS. This outlined that we are working to a date of 19 September 2011 to arrange the transfer of the regional development agencies assets to the Homes and Communities Agency under a stewardship arrangement, subject to completion of the necessary detailed work and arrangements. We are working very closely with our colleagues in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Homes and Communities Agency to finalise these details, including discussions on local and national governance.
	Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government also regularly meet with the chair and chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency to discuss the agency's core business.

Repossession Orders: Sunderland

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department is taking steps to reduce the number of repossessions in Sunderland Central constituency.

Grant Shapps: The Government are helping home owners in difficulty by tackling the record deficit to prevent a rapid increase in interest rates hitting struggling households.
	The Government are committed to working closely with lenders, debt advice agencies and local authorities to ensure that repossession is only ever a last resort and that effective help and advice for home owners at risk of repossession is available. The Government ‘Mortgage Help’ website outlines the options available to households.
	The Government continue to provide direct financial support to struggling home owners through support for mortgage interest. In addition, the Government also provide support for eligible householders through the mortgage rescue scheme.

Shared Equity Schemes: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many house buyers in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency received support from shared equity schemes in each of the last five years.

Grant Shapps: The following table shows the shared equity completions (ie purchases) funded by the Government in the London borough of Bexley for the past five years. Information is not collected by constituency.
	
		
			  Number 
			 2006-07 26 
			 2007-08 13 
			 2008-09 52 
			 2009-10 71 
			 2010-11 0 
			 Total 162 
			 Source: Homes and Communities Agency Information Management System

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Anaerobic Strategy Document

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how much her Department spent on consultants as part of the preparation of the Anaerobic Strategy Document;
	(2)  what the cost was of producing the Anaerobic Strategy Document.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA spent £4,600 on external costs (printing, meetings etc.), plus dedicated staff resources, to produce the Anaerobic Digestion Strategy and Action Plan. No consultants were used in the production of the document.

Angling: Licensing

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of income derived from rod licences in England and Wales was used for river maintenance and habitat management in the latest period for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: Rod licence income is spent entirely on fisheries work by the Environment Agency (EA). This work does include some habitat improvement, focused on increasing fish stocks with the purpose of improving angling. In 2009-10 the EA spent £1.4 million (approximately 5.5%) of rod licence income on habitat improvement in rivers.

Bed Bugs

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department is (a) undertaking or (b) commissioning research into new pesticides to deal with bed bug infestations.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA is not undertaking or commissioning research into new pesticides to deal with bed bug infestations.

Ministerial Meetings

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in her Department have attended since her appointment which were also attended by 
	(1)  (A) representatives, (B) journalists and (C) other employees of (1) News International and its subsidiary organisations including newspapers, (2) News Corporation and its subsidiary organisations and (3) BSkyB;
	(2)  Mr Andrew Coulson (A) between 12 May 2010 and 21 January 2011 and (B) since 21 January 2011.

Richard Benyon: As has been the practice of previous Administrations information relating to internal meetings, discussions and advice is not normally disclosed.
	I refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's statement to the House of 13 July 2011, Official Report, columns 311-14.

Departmental Dismissal

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials in her Department were dismissed for under-performance as a result of the procedures arising from her Department's staff appraisal system in each of the last three years.

Richard Benyon: In DEFRA staff are dismissed for under-performance following application of the formal Improving Performance or Probation Procedures.
	The following table shows the number of staff subject to formal performance action in each of the last three years where action has resulted in dismissal. This information is provided for core DEFRA and its agencies. Five of these cases relate to unsatisfactory probation. These figures do not include staff who left the department or its agencies when subject to informal performance action. No central records are kept of these departures.
	
		
			  Number of dismissals 
			 2009-10 (1)— 
			 2010-11 9 
			 2011-12 0 
			 (1) Details of dismissals in this year are being withheld for confidentiality reasons as the number of dismissals is less than five.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many requests under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 her Department received from (a) hon. Members from each political party and (b) members of the public in each year since the Act's entry into force.

Richard Benyon: The Department does not collect statistics about the background of individuals who make FOI requests.
	The Ministry of Justice publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the volume, timeliness and outcome of information requests received by over 40 central Government bodies.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party has been refused by (a) a Minister in her Department directly and (b) her Department on behalf of a Minister since May 2010.

Richard Benyon: The Department does not hold this information.

Droughts

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to encourage the water industry to put in place a co-ordinated and phased approach to the introduction of hosepipe bans.

Richard Benyon: Most water companies are reviewing and updating their statutory drought plans, following the commencement of legislation to update their powers to manage water restrictions.
	As droughts are not uniform in terms of duration, geography and impact, water companies need to be able to respond flexibly and quickly to emerging conditions in their areas. However, the Government recognise that different approaches to the implementation of restrictions can lead to some confusion for customers. We have asked the water companies to work together to minimise such confusion and to consult with their customers on their plans and their priorities for water savings.
	The Government have taken a close and hands on approach to managing the impacts of the current drought. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), met with representatives of the sectors affected by the dry conditions on 27 June to hear an update on the situation and agree further actions that could be taken to prepare for a prolonged or multi season drought.

Environmental Protection

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what means she plans to assess the contribution made by (a) local nature partnerships and (b) nature improvement areas to (i) the outcomes set out in her Department’s Natural Environment White Paper, (ii) commitments under the agreement reached in Nagoya on setting targets to protect the natural environment and (iii) the EU biodiversity strategy.

Richard Benyon: We will shortly be publishing a new biodiversity strategy for England. This will build on the Natural Environment White Paper and set out how we are taking forward our international biodiversity commitments in England. We will assess progress on our biodiversity objectives in the context of the arrangements to be set up under this strategy.

EU Packaging Directive

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of progress in meeting obligations under the EU Packaging Directive.

Richard Benyon: The UK achieved the targets set in the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC) in 2008, and maintained that achievement in 2009 and 2010.

Flood Control

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will review the weighting given to agricultural land in (a) the Fens and (b) other areas of flood risk in her Department's flood risk management models to take into account the potential effect on flooding on the (i) population of and (ii) food supply from such areas.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA's policy on appraisal requires flood management authorities in all areas to value agricultural land and the damages that could occur to food production as a result of flooding and coastal erosion in line with HM Treasury guidance. Specific guidance was provided by DEFRA in 2008, based on HM Treasury Green Book appraisal principles. This is in line with the approach taken to the valuation of other assets. The guidance allows authorities to recognise the different kinds of agricultural output in flood and erosion risk areas and their different values. For example, it highlights the value of specialist salad crops in the Fens and the fact these are less viable to grow elsewhere.
	The recently published policy statement on an outcome-focused, partnership approach to funding flood and coastal erosion risk management will continue to help to ensure that damages avoided to agricultural land (and other assets) are valued alongside benefits to households and the population in areas of flood and coastal erosion risk.

Food: Prices

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contribution her Department will make to the agricultural market information system agreed at the recent G20 Agriculture Ministerial summit in Paris.

James Paice: DEFRA will participate enthusiastically in these initiatives. It is too early to say what form our contribution will take.

Food: Waste

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to reduce food waste.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to reduce levels of household food waste.

Richard Benyon: The Government's Review of Waste Policy in England, published in June, sets our direction to move towards a zero waste economy. It outlines our long-term vision for food waste, which includes substantially reducing the amount arising.
	To do this we will continue to help businesses and consumers waste less food by sharing insight, evidence and best practice, improving product design and retail and supply chain practice,. engaging consumers, and encouraging local partnership approaches to food waste prevention.
	As well as continuing to work with food retailers and manufacturers via the Courtauld Commitment, the Government will develop a new responsibility deal with the hospitality and food service sector, which will cover food waste prevention. We will also lead by example by tackling food waste across the public sector estate.

Human Trafficking

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what responsibility she has for contributing to Government action against human trafficking; and what recent action she has taken in this regard.

Richard Benyon: The Government will shortly be publishing their strategy on human trafficking.
	The strategy will reiterate the UK's intention to take a comprehensive approach to combating trafficking—both by focusing on tackling traffickers and maintaining effective care for victims. It will also mark a greater focus on combating the organised crime groups behind this crime.
	The Government's approach will be based on four key principles:
	improved victim care arrangements;
	enhancing our ability to act early, before the harm has reached the UK;
	smarter, multi-agency action at the border; and
	a more co-ordinated policing effort at home.

Innovative Reward and Recognition Schemes

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how much funding has been allocated to her Department's grant funding scheme for innovative reward and recognition schemes available to community groups, civil society organisation and local authorities in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what plans she has for the roll-out in London of (a) local green points and (b) other recycling reward schemes.

Richard Benyon: The Government encourages councils to reward people to recycle. We have announced that £500,000 is being made available to local authorities and other organisations for innovative reward schemes, but we have not prescribed particular initiatives. This choice is a matter for local authorities. The funding was announced as part of the Waste Review in June and the closing date for applications is 26 July.

International Whaling Commission

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has any plans to bring forward proposals to increase the transparency of the governance of the International Whaling Commission.

Richard Benyon: A UK-led proposal, supported by all other member states of the European Union, was presented at this year's annual conference of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). It set out a number of reforms to improve the effectiveness and transparency of the IWC.
	I am very pleased to report that the proposal was successfully adopted by consensus. The measures agreed will enable the IWC to transform itself into a modern, transparent and credible international organisation.

International Whaling Commission

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions her Department has had with the International Whaling Commission on the enforceability of the scientific resources exemption;
	(2)  what her Department's policy is on the applicability of the scientific resources exemption in the rules of the International Whaling Commission.

Richard Benyon: Under the international convention on the regulation of whaling, contracting Governments are able to issue “special permits” to allow whaling for scientific purposes. Japan conducts this ‘scientific’ whaling legally under current International Whaling Commission (IWC) rules. The UK considers that such action severely hampers international efforts to conserve and protect whales and undermines the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling.
	At last week's annual meeting of the IWC, the UK made its opposition to Japan's ‘scientific’ whaling clear.

International Whaling Commission

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department plans to take to (a) promote and (b) enforce the ban on commercial whaling by all members of the International Whaling Commission.

Richard Benyon: I attended this year's International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting to demonstrate the UK Government's commitment to the work of the IWC, and our support for the moratorium on whaling.
	At this year's meeting the UK promoted the creation of whale sanctuaries and the need for improved welfare and efforts to address endangered cetacean populations, including further action to be taken to save the critically endangered Western Gray Whale.

Landfill: Recycling

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of how much waste collected for recycling was sent to landfill in each of the last five years.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA does not hold data on all waste that is collected for recycling but subsequently rejected and sent to landfill. DEFRA’s WasteDataFlow system provides data on waste collected by local authorities:
	www.wastedataflow.org
	The following table shows the tonnages of waste collected for recycling or reuse from household and other sources that were subsequently rejected at the gate of the reprocessor since 2005. This waste would either be sent to landfill or incineration; figures for landfill alone, excluding incineration, are not held.
	
		
			 Local authority recycling rejects 
			  Source (tonnes) Percentage of waste collected for recycling and rejected by reprocessor 
			  Household Non-household Total Household Non-household Total 
			 2009-10 183,913 4,084 187,997 1.94 0.47 1.82 
			 2008-09 156,839 10,393 167,233 1.69 1.10 1.64 
			 2007-08 134,441 5,075 139,515 1.52 0.52 1.42 
			 2006-07 125,895 1,118 127,013 1.56 0.12 1.41 
			 2005-06 105,617 4,692 110,309 1.54 0.47 1.40

Marine Conservation Zones

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what quality assurance processes will be applied to (a) environmental, (b) social and (c) economic data used in the English Marine Conservation Zone regional projects; and what timetable has been set for the completion of such quality assurance processes.

Richard Benyon: The Government's policy is that the best available evidence should be used to identify sites and conservation objectives. This policy is set out in the Government's Guidance Note 1 on the Selection and Designation of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), to which the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs) and Marine Conservation Zones Regional Projects are working. The evidence used in the regional project process includes data supplied by national contracts, with regionally and locally sourced data, and expert knowledge. Ministers want to make sound decisions on sites to take forward for designation, so we have ensured, and will continue to ensure that quality assurance processes are put in place.
	The independent Science Advisory Panel has provided scientific advice to the regional projects on the creation of an ecologically-coherent network and ecological evidence. The panel has reviewed all the iterations and the draft recommendations of the regional projects. For social and economic data, the impact assessment being drawn up by the SNCBs and regional projects will be externally peer reviewed. In addition, we have asked the regional projects to reference all evidence used (both scientific and stakeholder evidence) to reach their recommendations and assess the social and economic impact, and the quality control and assurance processes they applied. We have asked the SNCBs to provide us with a clear assessment of the scientific certainty and quality assurance of evidence used.
	The regional project recommendations will be submitted on 31 August 2011, the final Science Advisory Panel review of these recommendations is expected to be completed by mid October 2011, the external peer review of the impact assessment is expected to be completed by mid November, and the SNCB advice (including their assessment of scientific certainty) will be provided in mid January 2012.

Marine Conservation Zones: Birds

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether marine conservation zones will be designated for mobile species including seabirds, cetaceans and basking sharks; under what conditions such designations may be made; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies' Ecological Network Guidance to the Regional Projects describes the requirements for an ecologically coherent network, including those habitats and species of conservation importance considered to be most appropriately protected using Marine Conservation Zones. This includes three mobile species: smelt, European eel and undulate rays.
	Highly-mobile species are best protected by measures which can apply across their range and spatial protection mechanisms are not always, in isolation, the most effective way of protecting these species. We will continue to develop bespoke management measures for vulnerable mobile species, such as acoustic deterrents to reduce dolphin by-catch and fisheries protection for endangered sharks. All naturally occurring wild birds, including seabirds, are protected by the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 and the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations 2007. This legislation transposes the EC wild birds directive and, in particular, prohibits the deliberate killing or taking of wild birds and provides for the classification of special protection areas for birds in both English and UK waters.
	If areas important to habitats or species not specified in the Ecological Network Guidance are identified, the evidence should be provided and we will consider their protection through Marine Conservation Zones.

Packaging Waste

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has any plans to establish a statutory producer responsibility regime for (a) metal and (b) plastic packaging.

Richard Benyon: A statutory producer responsibility regime for metal and plastic packaging is in place under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 (as amended).

Metals: Recycling

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage the recycling of strategic metals.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 13 July 2011
	The Government will shortly respond to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee report on strategically important metals.
	DEFRA's business plan contains a commitment to develop an action plan on resource security. This will consider the need for further actions to assist businesses with risk management and recovery of critical resources, such as strategically important metals.
	Sustainable use of materials and waste prevention are Government priorities. The Government have already set out some approaches to reducing use and increasing recovery of critical materials in the review of waste policy in England.
	More generally, we encourage the recycling and recovery of all metallic wastes through adoption of the waste hierarchy so as to prevent valuable resources going to landfill; supporting the development of European end-of-waste criteria; and domestic quality protocols to fully recover waste to a non-waste product. Lighter regulatory controls are also in place for those carrying out small-scale, low-risk recycling and recovery operations of scrap metal and waste electrical and electronic equipment, by providing exemptions from the need for an environmental permit.

Packaging: Plastics

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to implement the recommendations of the annual report of the Advisory Committee on Packaging for 2010-11 on plastic packaging targets.

Richard Benyon: In the Review of Waste Policy in England, published in June, the Government stated their intention to consult on increased recycling targets for all packaging materials, including plastic. The findings and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Packaging in relation to plastic packaging targets will be considered as part of this.

Packaging: Toys and Games

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to convene with the Work Reduction Action Programme and other relevant trade associations a working group on toy packaging.

Richard Benyon: Following the publication of the Review of Waste Policy in England in June, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is commissioning data analysis of packaging usage in the toy sector, with results expected in the autumn. A working group will be established to review the data findings and agree next steps. It will include representatives from both WRAP and the relevant trade associations.

Pigmeat: EU Action

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of implementing the recommendations of the European Commission's Pigmeat Enlarged Advisory Group.

James Paice: On 18 May 2011, the EU Commission presented the key conclusions of the Enlarged Advisory Group on Pigmeat. These focus on the role of innovation in boosting the competitiveness of the sector and the importance of better integration across the industry. The Commission has made no specific recommendations at this stage, but expects to consider the sector further in its forthcoming legislative proposals on the future CAP.

Anaerobic Digestion

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department plans to adopt to monitor data on 
	(1)  anaerobic plant capacity;
	(2)  actual and intended farmer take up of anaerobic digestion plants on an annual basis.

Richard Benyon: The Government’s Anaerobic Digestion Strategy and Action Plan was published in June. This contains clearly identified actions that will ensure that we monitor the progress of the Anaerobic Digestion (AD) industry. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC) will publish an agreed baseline map of existing capacity by September this year. WRAP and the AD industry will continue to monitor the growth in capacity at all scales, and will publish this information via the NNFCC AD Portal website:
	www.biogas-info.co.uk
	Farmers’ use of AD technology will be included in the monitoring of the growth of the sector. Farm-based plants are already recorded on the map of AD plants published on the NNFCC portal site, and we will continue to monitor developments of farm-based digesters so that we can accurately assess capacity development in this sector.

Recycling: City of York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department provided to City of York council to increase recycling rates in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA provides funding to upper tier local authorities outside London through the Waste Infrastructure Capital Grant to support investment in infrastructure, such as recycling and composting facilities, to boost recycling rates. The grant was for three years of the comprehensive spending review 2007 period and was front loaded at the time to encourage early investment.
	DEFRA provided the following amounts to the City of York council:
	(a) 2009-10: £361,122.65
	(b) 2010-11: £133,485.73.
	The Government provide funding more generally to local authorities to support the delivery of their services through the Revenue Support Grant. This funding is not ring-fenced, giving councils the freedom to work with their residents when deciding how best to prioritise their spending, including on the provision of recycling services.

Research: Capital Investment

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what her most recent estimate is of the capital expenditure in research and development by her Department in (a) the last four financial years and (b) the next four financial years;
	(2)  what her most recent estimate is of the revenue expenditure in research and development by her Department in (a) the last four financial years and (b) the next four financial years.

Richard Benyon: Research and development (R&D) expenditure in DEFRA is classed as resource (revenue) expenditure, and therefore there is no capital expenditure to report.
	(a) DEFRA's most recent assessment (7 July 2011) of research and development spend in the core Department in the past four years is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2007-08 130 
			 2008-09 125 
			 2009-10 120 
			 2010-11 (1)103 
			 (1) Within an overall evidence budget of £209 million. 
		
	
	(b) DEFRA now allocates budgets on the basis of evidence, rather than research and development.
	Evidence is defined as reliable and accurate information that DEFRA can use to support sound decisions in developing, shaping, and evaluating policy. It includes research and development, monitoring and surveillance, economic and statistical analysis and modelling, secondary analysis and synthesis, and analysis of stakeholder views.
	It is not possible to be definitive about future R&D-specific spend at this point as the figures include a significant ring-fenced unallocated evidence provision retained for 2012-13 onwards. This will be allocated annually according to the DEFRA Chief Scientific Adviser's advice on the evidence priorities at the time. The exact proportion of the evidence total spent on research and development may vary depending on this advice. It is, however, possible to provide DEFRA's planned total programme evidence budgets (including statutory and non-statutory monitoring and animal health and welfare surveillance as well as R&D) for each of the next four years as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2011-12 199 
			 2012-13 188 
			 2013-14 177 
			 2014-15 166

River Ouse

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how her Department monitors the riverbed levels of the tidal River Ouse; and how the outcome of this monitoring is communicated to the public.

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency (EA) undertakes bed level surveys of the Tidal River Great Ouse every three months and has done so for many years. Survey information is available back to the 1940’s and provides data to monitor both long and short term changes to the bed level profile.
	These survey data are not routinely published, but are available on request. They are frequently used by the EA for analysts, programming works or in developing long-term strategies, such as the Great Ouse Tidal River Strategy, which was available to all stakeholders including the public at the consultation stage.
	The bed level survey data are used by the EA when briefing local stakeholders, such as internal drainage boards, conservation organisations and local communities, for example, Welney parish council, about the current state of siltation in the Great Ouse.

River Ouse

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department’s policy is on the use of Denver Sluice to flush silt from the tidal River Ouse; and what records her Department keeps on the operation of the sluice.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 18 July 2011
	The Environment Agency’s policy and operational rules for Denver Sluice are to maximise the available flow so that it can discharge through the sluices at all times. These flows help to reduce the siltation of the Tidal River downstream of the Denver Sluice. This is line with the Great Ouse Tidal River Strategy recommendations and has been found to be the most efficient, sustainable and cost-effective way of managing the build-up of silt in the Tidal River.
	Daily flow calculations are recorded for all sluice gates at Denver. These are used for a number of reasons including calculating: the available flow for discharge through Denver sluices, the available flow for transfer to Essex to replenish public water resources in the Abberton reservoir, and the river levels required to maintain healthy fisheries, and to provide navigation. Records also include upstream and downstream river levels.

River Ouse

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Environment Agency's Great Ouse Tidal River Strategy has received final approval; what its status is; and what opportunities there are to review it.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 14 July 2011
	The Great Ouse Tidal River Strategy was approved by the Anglian Central Regional Flood Defence Committee in 2010 and received internal Environment Agency (EA) approval from the National Review Group (now the Large Projects Review Group). This followed a full public consultation carried out in 2009, and detailed discussions with the local planning authorities in the Strategy area. Now that the (EA) has agreed local planning protocols, the Strategy is expected to be signed-off by the EA Board this year.
	The Tidal River Strategy is a long-term (100-year) approach to managing flood risk in this part of the Fens. The EA aims to review its strategic plans every five to ten years.

River Ouse

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department plans to allocate to the Environment Agency's Great Ouse flood risk management budget for (a) dredging of the tidal River Ouse and (b) the Hundred Foot River in the next five years.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 14 July 2011
	The Environment Agency (EA) undertakes detailed planning for desilting requirements on an annual basis. This enables the EA to react to the routine quarterly bathymetric (water depth) surveys it carries out to monitor the bed levels and siltation in the rivers.
	Over the next five years, the EA’s forecast spend for desilting works on the tidal Great Ouse is estimated at £75,000, and on the Hundred Foot river is estimated at £200,000. This forecast spending will have flexibility built-in to react to changing needs.
	The Tidal River Strategy concluded that a routine programme of dredging these rivers was prohibitively expensive and unsustainable.

River Ouse

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long it took to formulate the Environment Agency's Great Ouse Tidal River Strategy; at what cost to the public purse; and what assessment her Department has made of the value for money of the strategy.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 14 July 2011
	The Environment Agency (EA) first scoped the Great Ouse Tidal River Strategy in 2005. The Strategy was completed in 2010 and final sign-off by the EA Board is due this year.
	The Strategy evaluated key technical issues concerning engineering, the complexity of the managed hydrology, climate change, sea level rise and the economic justification (under HM Treasury rules) for any works in the Tidal Ouse system.
	The total cost of producing the Strategy was £780,000 which consisted of £140,000 for EA staff costs and £640,000 for supplier costs. The project incurred additional costs due to changes in guidance from when the Strategy was initially scoped (in 2005) and from undertaking more development work following extensive public consultation.
	The Strategy recommends spending on the system over the next 100 years to continue to manage flood risk of £227,000,000. This is a cash cost based on 2009 prices.
	The preparation of the Strategy cost less than 0.35% of the total long-term cost of managing the Tidal River Great Ouse over the next 100 years. The Strategy is a substantial project, leading to the first real appraisal of the sustainability of this tidal fenland system, against the issues of climate change, sea-level rise, siltation and water-level management. The Strategy provides the economic justification for ongoing investment for the Ouse Washes and this means the many projects the Environment Agency undertake around this substantial reservoir (and its many components) are based on a sound appraisal of the need for and value of the assets maintained. Without this Strategy it would be very difficult to justify, technically and economically, continued flood risk management investment on the Tidal Ouse system.

River Ouse

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the potential future costs to arise from implementation of the Environment Agency's Great Ouse Tidal River Strategy.

Richard Benyon: The whole-life cash costs (not discounted to present day values) of implementing the plan over the 100 year life of the strategy are estimated to be £227 million. This includes capital intervention to the system assets, maintenance and a contingency allowance. The potential cash cost of works in the first five years is £12,900,000.

Rivers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to include proposals for river environment restoration for chalk streams in the Water White Paper.

Richard Benyon: As announced in the Natural Environment White Paper, the Government intend to take steps to tackle the legacy of unsustainable abstraction more efficiently. Further details, including those relating to the environmental restoration of chalk streams affected by unsustainable abstraction, will be included in the Water White Paper, due to be published later this year.

Rural Advocate

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements she plans to put in place for the fulfilment of the functions of the post of Rural Advocate.

Richard Benyon: The Government abolished the role of Rural Advocate in July 2010. The post had no statutory functions that need to continue and the Government have no plan to introduce new arrangements for the appointment of a publicly-funded external rural campaigner.
	DEFRA Ministers will act as rural champions, and many rural MPs also act as effective advocates for rural life. In addition, there are many rural organisations and commentators who already advocate strongly and effectively on behalf of rural people, and the Government will work with these to ensure that the needs and interests of rural communities and businesses are fully and fairly reflected in their policies and programmes.

Rural Advocate

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she received in support of the abolition of the post of Rural Advocate.

Richard Benyon: The Government have not received any recent representations in support of their decision to abolish the post of Rural Advocate in the last year.
	The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), and DEFRA Ministers have gone on record thanking Dr Burgess for his dedication, commitment and hard work undertaken as Rural Advocate during his tenure.

Rural Areas: Broadband

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what timetable is in place for the Rural Community Broadband Fund.

Richard Benyon: The Government announced on 10 March that they are establishing a rural Community Broadband Fund with funding of up to £20 million. The fund will draw on the Rural Development Programme for England’s European funds and funding from the £530 million available to Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK). It will provide support to rural communities for small community broadband projects.
	Further details and how the fund will operate are being finalised between BDUK and DEFRA, but it is currently envisaged that the fund will be in operation by the end of 2011. Further information will be made available ahead of this.

Tuna: Conservation

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the conclusions and recommendations of the report of the International Union for Conservation of Nature on the threat of extinction to species of tuna.

Richard Benyon: The report which lists Southern and Atlantic bluefin, bigeye, yellowfin and albacore tunas as being under varying degrees of threat is concerning. It is essential that we continue to do all we can to ensure that the international bodies responsible for managing these species take all the necessary steps required to restore them to sustainable levels.
	It is good to see that the report recognises that some recent measures, such as the reduced catches of Atlantic bluefin, may help the species to recover, but we need to ensure that these measures are built upon to ensure a sustainable future for these species.

Waste Management

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take with the devolved administrations on measures to achieve a zero-waste economy.

Richard Benyon: Waste policy is a devolved issue and each administration is responsible for its own area, within the EU legislative context. However, while specific policies may differ, the overarching ambitions of our waste programmes are consistent. These are to move waste up the hierarchy, preventing waste wherever possible and increasing re-use and recycling. DEFRA will continue to work closely with the devolved administrations on these issues.

Water Abstraction: Hertfordshire

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for future levels of abstraction at the pumping stations at Fulling Mill and White Hall in North East Hertfordshire constituency.

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency is seeking to reduce the levels of abstractions at Fulling Mill and White Hall. Investigations carried out between 2005-10 identified that abstractions at the two locations are having a detrimental impact on the ecology of the Rivers Mimram and Beane.
	The Environment Agency has requested the closure of Fulling Mill Pumping Station (River Mimram), and a reduction in abstraction at Whitehall Pumping Station (River Beane). Both these abstractions are operated by Veolia Water Central (VWC), who have agreed to implement these reductions in 2015 subject to compensation.
	Cost benefit assessments are currently being undertaken at both locations to clarify the benefits in terms of environmental improvements of the reduction in abstraction compared to the estimated compensation costs. These assessments are scheduled for completion by March 2012. Our initial assessment has been completed and we are in the process of reviewing this to take into account the environmental benefits.

HEALTH

Abortion

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to use (a) existing primary legislation or (b) secondary legislation under existing primary legislation to give effects to the proposals in amendments 1 to 3 to the Health and Social Care (Re-committed) Bill in respect of the provision of independent information, advice and counselling services for women requesting termination of pregnancy.

Anne Milton: Amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill are not necessary to require the availability of independent abortion counselling.
	We are working on proposals to allow all women seeking an abortion to be offered access to independent counselling by appropriately qualified individuals.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were treated for alcohol-related illnesses in (a) York, (b) North Yorkshire and York primary care trust area and (c) England in each year since 1997.

Anne Milton: The information is in the following table. These data should not be described as a count of people as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion.
	We have not been able to include data for 1997-98 to 2001-02 as requested as alcohol attributable fractions are only available from 2002-03.
	
		
			 Number of finished admission episodes which are estimated to be alcohol-related for England, York local authority (LA), and North Yorkshire and York primary care trust (PCT) of residence; 2002-03 to 2009-10 
			  Activity in English NHS  h ospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  England York LA North Yorkshire and York PCT of residence 
			 2002-03 510,778 1,926 8,087 
			 2003-04 570,108 2,134 9,130 
			 2004-05 644,738 2,483 9,981 
			 2005-06 736,054 2,791 10,391 
			 2006-07 802,066 2,878 10,862 
			 2007-08 863,566 2,725 11,484 
			 2008-09 945,470 3,252 12,662 
			 2009-10 1,056,962 3,280 14,808 
			 Notes: 1. Alcohol-related admissions. The number of alcohol-related admissions is based on the methodology developed by the North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO), which uses 48 indicators for alcohol-related illnesses, determining the proportion of a wide range of diseases and injuries that can be partly attributed to alcohol as well as those that are, by definition, wholly attributable to alcohol. Further information on these proportions can be found at: www.nwph.net/nwpho/publications/AlcoholAttributableFractions.pdf The application of the NWPHO methodology has recently been updated and is now available directly from HES. As such, information about episodes estimated to be alcohol related may be slightly different from previously published data. 2.PCT/SHA data quality. In July 2006, the NHS reorganised strategic health authorities (SHAs) and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England from 28 SHAs into 10, and from 303 PCTs into 152. As a result data from 2006-07 onwards are not directly comparable with previous years. Data have been presented for those SHA/PCTs which have valid data for the breakdown presented here. As a result some SHA/PCTs may be missing from the list provided. See the following table. It should be noted that in 2005-06 Craven, Harrogate and Rural District PCT, Hambleton and Richmondshire PCT, Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale PCT and Selby and York PCT merged to form North Yorkshire and York PCT of residence. 3. SHA/PCT/LA of residence. The SHA, PCT or LA containing the patient's normal home address. This does not necessarily reflect where the patient was treated as they may have travelled to another area for treatment. 4. Assessing growth through time. HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. 5. Number of episodes in which the patient had an alcohol-related primary or secondary diagnosis. These figures represent the number of episodes where an alcohol-related diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a HES record. Each episode is only counted once in each count, even if an alcohol-related diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record. 6. Data quality. HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts PCTs in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care 
		
	
	
		
			 PCT of r esidence 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 
			 Total 8,087 9,130 9,981 10,391 
			 Craven, Harrogate and Rural District PCT 2,532 2,693 2,704 2,913 
			 Hambleton and Richmondshire PCT 1,036 1,575 1,892 1,799 
		
	
	
		
			 Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale PCT 1,794 1,723 1,827 1,717 
			 Selby and York PCT 2,725 3,138 3,557 3,962

Anti-depressants: Children

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of children aged between (a) 0 and 15 years and (b) 16 and 18 years who were prescribed anti-depressants in each year since 1997.

Paul Burstow: No estimate has been made. Information on the ages of individuals prescribed anti-depressants is not collected.

Baby Care Units: Finance

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2011, Official Report, column 865W, on baby care units: finance, whether the NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for allocating funding for neonatal networks from April 2012; and what plans he has to ensure that funding for neonatal networks continues beyond financial year 2011-12.

Simon Burns: The Government have committed to retain and strengthen existing clinical networks and to use clinical networks to help ensure that a range of professionals play an integral part in the clinical commissioning of patient care. Further work will be undertaken to define these networks and review their range, function and effectiveness to deliver strengthened clinical networks in the new system. Decisions about the allocation of funding will be made following the conclusion of this work.
	It is expected that in future clinical networks would be hosted by the NHS Commissioning Board, which would allow them to maximise the range and scale of support they provide to be most effective to clinical commissioning groups.

Contaminated Blood

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcomes were of the meeting between officials in his Department and representatives of Tainted Blood, the Manor House Group, the Hepatitis C Trust and the Haemophilia Society on 29 June 2011.

Anne Milton: At the meeting, I informed the representatives that I will be meeting a group of clinical and scientific experts later this year to discuss the current eligibility criteria for stage 2 hepatitis C payments, and that I will also be keeping the funding of the Caxton Foundation under review once we have a better understanding of the size of the beneficiary group. I also listened to the comments they made.

Blood: Screening

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) NHS trusts and (b) NHS foundation trusts use laboratory services outwith the UK to carry out blood analysis testing.

Anne Milton: The Department does not hold this information.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will ensure that breast cancer screening standards are maintained and reduce the chances of local variations in the standards of service provision;
	(2)  if he will take steps to maintain or increase the number of clinical nurse specialists working in breast care;
	(3)  if he will take steps to ensure that digital technology is used by all breast screening programmes in England.

Paul Burstow: Strict quality assurance operates across the NHS breast screening programme at a cost of £5 million per year. The aim of quality assurance in the programme is to maintain standards and continued improvement in the performance of all aspects of breast screening in order to ensure that women have access to a high quality service wherever they live. In line with the update on ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People’, breast screening quality assurance will become the responsibility of Public Health England from 1 April 2013.
	As at 30 June 2011, 85% of the 80 local breast screening units in England had at least one digital mammography machine, and 39% were fully digital. We have advised programmes to move to direct digital as quickly as possible as the independent Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer Screening has said that running both film and digital systems together is inefficient.
	We know that cancer patients greatly value the care and support of clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). The 2010 Cancer Patient Experience Survey showed that 93% of breast cancer patients reported having a CNS. To support the national health service to develop the CNS work force, ‘Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer’ sets out our intention to build the evidence base for the benefits and costs savings that CNSs can offer. This follows an independent report we published in December 2010 that showed that, in many scenarios, the costs of additional support roles are likely to be outweighed by the savings that can be achieved. The 2010 Census of Cancer Specialist Nurses in England reported that there were 2,164.2 whole-time equivalents CNSs in the 28 English cancer networks, of which 400.37 worked in breast cancer. A copy of the census has been placed in the Library.

Cancer: Health Education

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that his proposed public health reforms include (a) a long-term commitment to cancer awareness campaigns and (b) measures to increase awareness of screening among black, Asian and minority ethnic people.

Anne Milton: Alongside publication of the Public Health White Paper, ‘Healthy People, Healthy Lives’, the Department published two related consultation documents. One of these, the ‘Consultation on Funding and Commissioning Routes for Public Health’, set out proposals for future public health commissioning responsibilities. We proposed that local authorities would lead on behavioural and lifestyle campaigns to help prevent cancer and other conditions and campaigns to prompt early diagnosis via awareness of symptoms. ‘Improving Outcomes—a Strategy for Cancer’, published in January 2011, committed to continuing work to promote earlier diagnosis, including, subject to successful evaluation of pilots, further campaigns.
	It was also proposed in the consultation that Public Health England would be responsible for funding all national screening programmes. The design and quality assurance of screening programmes would be a direct responsibility of Public Health England, as would funding and managing the piloting and rolling out of new programmes and extending current ones. The NHS Commissioning Board would commission established programmes on behalf of Public Health England, as specified and with funding transferred for that purpose. It will be vital to ensure as many people as possible are aware of screening programmes including black, Asian and minority ethnic people and there will need to be work to tackle inequalities in the uptake of screening.
	We will be responding to the consultations in due course.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent progress he has made in ensuring equality in cancer treatment across England and Wales.

Paul Burstow: “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer” (January 2011) sets out a goal to save at least an additional 5,000 lives every year by 2014-15, aiming to narrow the inequalities gap at the same time. The strategy makes clear that tackling health inequalities is essential to improving outcomes and achieving cancer survival rates that match the best performing countries in the world.
	Since its establishment in 2008, the National Cancer Equality Initiative (NCEI) has undertaken a range of activities to reduce inequalities, including the publication of the major report “Reducing cancer inequality: evidence, progress and making it happen” (March 2010). This set out a series of recommended national and local actions to reduce inequalities in cancer care around: data collection; analysis and publication; targeted interventions; training, development and research; evaluation and monitoring; and embedding equality.
	The NCEI is working with Macmillan Cancer Support and Age UK on a £1 million programme to improve cancer care and outcomes for older people. The programme consists of 13 pilot sites across the country to improve intervention rates for people over 70 who have a cancer diagnosis. Pilots will introduce new ways of assessing older people for cancer treatment, offer short-term practical support for older people undergoing cancer treatment and will address any age discrimination in cancer services by identifying and addressing the training needs of all professionals working with older people.
	In addition, the NCEI work programme for 2011-12 includes: enabling multi-disciplinary teams to undertake annual patient level equality audits to reflect on treatment, experience and practice issues for their local patients; working with the National Cancer Intelligence Network to produce local profiles for emerging national health service organisations, including equality characteristics where appropriate; and examining the 2010 Cancer Patient Experience Survey results by equality group.

Colorectal Cancer: East Midlands

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the East Midlands Cancer Drugs Fund provides funding for Avastin for (a) first-line treatment for bowel cancer and (b) second-line treatment.

Paul Burstow: Under the Cancer Drugs Fund, NHS East Midlands routinely funds bevacizumab (Avastin) for first line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer and first line treatment of renal cell cancer if intolerant to pazopanib and sunitinib.
	We understand that applications for bevacizumab for other indications are considered by the NHS East Midlands clinical panel on a case by case basis.
	Details of the drugs and indications routinely funded by NHS East Midlands under the Cancer Drugs Fund are updated periodically and made available on its website at:
	http://www.eastmidlands.nhs.uk/EasySiteWeb/getresource. axd?AssetID=40204&type=full&servicetype=Attachment

Contraception: Young People

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons public health guidance on contraceptive services for socially-disadvantaged young people has been suspended; and when such guidance will be published.

Anne Milton: The publication of this guidance was postponed while the new commissioning arrangements for sexual health services outlined in “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Update and Way Forward”, published 14 July 2011, were developed. A copy of this is available in the Library. The Department and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will now review the role and purpose of this guidance.

Cord Blood

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much funding his Department has provided for the collection and storage of umbilical cord blood in each year since 2007-08; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent progress he has made in implementing the recommendations of the Stem Cell Strategic Forum;
	(3)  what recent assessment he has made of the provision of umbilical cord blood for transplant; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what recent assessment has been made of the clinical benefits of umbilical cord blood transplant; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: Funding for the collection and storage of umbilical cord blood is part of the Department's grant in aid to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). Departmental figures show that funding allocated for the collection and storage of cord blood was as follows:
	
		
			 Funding 
			  £ 
			 2007-08 4,416,000 
			 2008-09 4,535,000 
			 2009-10 4,532,000 
		
	
	The most recent assessment of the provision of umbilical cord blood for transplant and its clinical benefits was made as part of work carried out by the UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum. The Department published the report called ‘The Future of Unrelated Donor Stem Cell Transplantation in the UK’ on 1 December 2010. A copy has already been placed in the Library and is available online at:
	www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/pdf/uk_stem_cell_strategic_forum_report.pdf
	The Department has committed an additional £4 million in this financial year to implement the first tranche of the recommendations from the report.

Cord Blood

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many umbilical cord blood donations were collected in England in each year since 2007-08; and how many such donations contained a cell volume sufficient for clinical use;
	(2)  how many umbilical cord blood transplants were carried out in England in each year since 2007-08;
	(3)  how many women were asked to donate umbilical cord blood in England in each year since 2007-08;
	(4)  what plans he has to increase the number of NHS trusts that are able to collect umbilical cord blood for transplant.

Anne Milton: The following data refers to the donations collected by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) in England. They exclude any collections undertaken by private cord blood banks. The stem cell dose required for clinical use depends on many factors including the weight of the recipient. To maximise the utilisation of the cord blood bank, NHSBT preferentially bag high dose units as these are more clinically useful. The information is provided in the following table.
	
		
			 NHSBT cord blood collections and stem cell dose 
			  Donations collected High dose units banked (1) 
			 2007-08 2,638 1,051 
			 2008-09 2,712 1,086 
			 2009-10 3,166 1,298 
			 2010-11 3,455 1,399 
			 (1) Cord blood units that meet specification for banking, i.e. total nucleated cell count exceeds 90xl0(7) (for Black and minority ethnic donors) and 120xl0(7) (for European Caucasian donors), negative for infectious disease markers, sterile and otherwise safe for use. Source: NHS Blood and Transplant 
		
	
	Information on umbilical cord blood transplants in England since 2007 is provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Umbilical cord blood transplants in England 
			  Transplants 
			 2007 75 
			 2008 91 
			 2009 95 
			 2010 112 
			 Note: Data compiled with Anthony Nolan for calendar years. 
		
	
	The Department does not hold any information on how many women are asked to donate umbilical cord blood in England every year.
	It is a decision for each individual NHS trust if it wishes to facilitate the collection of umbilical cord blood. Umbilical cord blood collected for the NHS Cord Blood Bank is part of a strategically agreed programme to increase the number of stem cell units available to transplant centres. It complements the work on adult donation carried out through the United Kingdom bone marrow registries. An important aim of the NHS Cord Blood Bank is to help redress the current inequality experienced by sections of the population, mainly from black or mixed parentage backgrounds, when looking for a suitable adult donor on bone marrow registries. For this reason, collection sites are located in areas with high ethnic diversity and high delivery rates. As a consequence, approximately 40% of donations in the NHS Cord Blood Bank derive from ethnic minority mothers. All the cord blood units stored in the NHS Cord Blood Bank are available to national health service patients across the country.

Cord Blood

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of umbilical cord blood transplant;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the cost per quality-adjusted life year associated with (a) autologous stem cell transplants, (b) allogeneic stem cell transplants from an adult donor and (c) umbilical cord blood transplants in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  what the average cost to the public purse was of performing an umbilical cord blood transplant on (a) a child and (b) an adult in the latest period for which figures are available.

Anne Milton: The Department of Health published the UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum report entitled “The Future of Unrelated Donor Stem Cell Transplantation in the UK” on 1 December 2010. A copy has already been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/pdf/uk_stem_cell_strategic_forum_report.pdf
	The approximate costs of transplantation, including stem cell procurement and post-haemopoietic stem cell transplantation care appear on page 48 of the report.

Cord Blood

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding (a) the National Institute for Health Research and (b) the Medical Research Council has allocated for research into the collection, storage and use of umbilical cord blood and its clinical applications in each year since 2007-08.

Simon Burns: Government investment in health research in England is made principally by the Department of Health, through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, through the Medical Research Council (MRC).
	Expenditure by the NIHR on research relating to the collection, storage and use of umbilical cord blood is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2007-08 0.1 
			 2008-09 0.1 
			 2009-10 0.1 
			 2010-11 0.2 
		
	
	The MRC does not routinely record expenditure on research relating to umbilical cord blood research as a separate category. Projects involving research on umbilical cord blood cells are primarily categorised as adult stem cell research. The MRC's expenditure in all areas of stem cell research is detailed in the following table, and umbilical cord research will be a subset of the adult stem cell expenditure. In its records, the MRC classifies stem cell research as either adult or embryonic. This is because stem cells derived from an embryo are truly pluripotent, which means that each cell has the potential to become any type of cell that makes up the whole organism. Stem cells from other sources, including the umbilical cord, are multipotent so they have the potential to become a range of other cell types but not necessarily all cell types found in the adult.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 
			 Adult stem cells 14.3 14.2 17.0 
			 Embryonic stem cells 8.5 9.1 9.0 
			 Adult/embryonic stem cells 2.7 5.1 11.6 
			 Total 25.6 28.4 37.7 
		
	
	Data for 2010-11 are not available.

Departmental Domestic Visits

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times he has visited (a) Buckinghamshire, (b) Surrey, (c) Liverpool and (d) Dorset in an official capacity since May 2010.

Simon Burns: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Place Number of visits since May 2010 
			 Buckinghamshire 1 
			 Dorset 1 
			 Liverpool 5 
			 Surrey 2

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been (a) recruited and (b) made redundant from (i) his Department and (ii) each non-departmental body for which he is responsible since May 2010.

Simon Burns: There has been one permanent appointment to the Department of Health since the introduction of a recruitment freeze as part of the coalition Government’s efficiency measures on 24 May 2010. In addition, there have been 54 temporary appointments. These were 24 secondments and 30 fixed term appointments.
	18 fast streamers have been recruited by the Cabinet Office and been deployed to the Department since 24 May 2010.
	The Department has not made any civil servant redundant since May 2010. However, we ran a voluntary exit scheme in January 2011 where 263 staff were offered early exit terms and have also released 16 staff on pre-2010 terms under the principal civil service compensation scheme.
	The Department has 18 arm’s length bodies (ALBs) that are subject to the Government’s external recruitment freeze. The following table contains the figures for all ALBs.
	
		
			 ALB Number of people recruited since 24 May 2010 Number of people made redundant since 24 May 2010 
			 Alcohol Education and Research Council 0 0 
			 Appointments Commission(1) 2 8 
			 Care Quality Commission(1) 0 123 
			 Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence(1) 1 0 
			 General Social Care Council(1) 40 4 
			 The Health and Social Care Information Centre(2) 7 9 
			 Health Protection Agency(1) 249 32 
			 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority(1) . 4 0 
			 Human Tissue Authority(1) 0 0 
			 Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency(3) 22 1 
			 Monitor—Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts(1) 34 0 
			 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence(2) 73 10 
			 National Patient Safety Agency(2) 16 63 
			 National Treatment Agency(2) 9 0 
			 NHS Blood and Transplant(2) 586 112 
			 NHS Business Services Authority(2) 103 209 
			 NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement(2) 16 2 
			 NHS Litigation Authority(2) 0 12 
			 (1)Non-Departmental Public Body (2) Special Health Authority (3) Executive Agency

Departmental Redundancy

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much (a) his Department and (b) each non-departmental body for which he is responsible has spent on redundancies since May 2010.

Simon Burns: The Department has not made any civil servant redundant since May 2010. However, we ran a voluntary exit scheme in January 2011, and have also released a small number of staff on pre-2010 terms under the principal civil service compensation scheme.
	The total cost of these pre-2010 terms exits between May 2010 and the end of the 2010-11 financial year was £492,039 for initial (year 1) costs and £790,627 set aside to cover future years’ annual compensation payments.
	The costs of the January 2011 exit scheme totalled £19,373,071, all accounted for in the 2010-11 financial year.
	There has been no central departmental spend so far on exits in 2011-12.
	The Department has 18 arm’s length bodies (ALBs), of which some are not non- departmental public bodies. The following table contains information about the cost of redundancies for all ALBs.
	
		
			 ALB Cost of Redundancies since 24 May 2010 (£) 
			 Alcohol Education and Research Council(1) 0 
			 Appointments Commission(1) 422,992 
			 Care Quality Commission(1) 9,160,707 
			 Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence(1) 0 
			 General Social Care Council(1) 35,976 
			 The Health and Social Care Information Centre(2) 250,533 
			 Health Protection Agency(1) 748,000 
			 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority(1) 0 
			 Human Tissue Authority(1) 0 
			 Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency(3) 5,409 
			 Monitor—Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts(1) 0 
			 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence(2) 544,211 
			 National Patient Safety Agency(2) 2,583,000 
			 National Treatment Agency(2) 0 
			 NHS Blood and Transplant(2) 4,584,000 
			 NHS Business Services Authority(2) 8,600,000 
			 NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement(2) 37,502 
			 NHS Litigation Authority(2) 147,005 
			 (1 )Non-departmental public bodies (2 )Special health authorities (3 )Executive agency

Drugs: Older People

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people over the age of 60 were prescribed anti-psychotic drugs treatments on the NHS in (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority in each year since 1997.

Simon Burns: The age of the patient is not collected when a prescription is processed by the NHS Prescriptions Service and therefore the information requested is not available.

Health and Social Care: Voluntary Organisations

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the provision of guidance and support to voluntary organisations to assist them to present their services in a tender suitable for the GP commissioning process.

Paul Burstow: Voluntary sector organisations already make a valuable contribution across health and social care.
	The Government are committed to ensuring that the best providers flourish, whichever sector they are in. We will make sure that what matters is the quality of care provided, not who owns the organisation providing it. All providers, including charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises should have the same opportunities to offer services, provided they can meet the NHS service quality requirements and prices.
	To support this, guidance on the phased extension of choice of provider in community and mental health services is forthcoming.
	The Department will continue to work closely with its Voluntary Sector Strategic Partners to support voluntary sector capability to engage with primary care trusts and Clinical Commissioning Groups as they develop and to ensure that understanding of commissioning processes and tendering is cascaded to the wider sector. The Department is already working with the sector in the design of the new system and arrangements and will continue to do so during this transition period.

Genito-urinary Medicine: Consultants

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many genito-urinary medicine consultants there are in each NHS hospital trust.

Anne Milton: The number of genito-urinary medicine consultants by NHS trust as of 30 September 2010 is contained in the following table.
	
		
			 Hospital and community health services: medical consultants in the genito-urinary medicine specialty by national health service trust, as at 30 September 2010 
			   Number (headcount) 
			 England  350 
			    
			 5C1 Enfield Primary Care Trust (PCT) 2 
			 5C9 Haringey Teaching PCT 3 
			 5D8 North Tyneside PCT 2 
			 5F7 Stockport PCT 1 
			 5HG Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 1 
			 5HP Blackpool PCT 2 
			 5HQ Bolton PCT 4 
			 5J9 Darlington PCT 1 
			 5K7 Camden PCT 7 
			 5L1 Southampton City PCT 4 
			 5LG Wandsworth PCT 2 
			 5LH Tameside and Glossop PCT 1 
			 5MD Coventry Teaching PCT 3 
			 5MX Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 7 
			 5N9 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 1 
			 5NF North Lancashire Teaching PCT 1 
			 5NP Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 4 
			 5P8 Hastings and Rother PCT 1 
			 5PF Sandwell PCT 1 
			 5PL Worcestershire PCT 2 
			 5PT Suffolk PCT 2 
			 5PY South West Essex PCT 3 
			 5QG Berkshire East PCT 3 
			 5QT Isle of Wight NHS PCT 1 
			 5QV Hertfordshire PCT 2 
			 NNF City Health Care Partnership 3 
			 RA3 Weston Area Health NHS Trust 1 
			 RA9 South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 RAE Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 3 
			 RAJ Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 2 
			 RAS The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust 3 
			 RAX Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 3 
			 RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RBD Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 RBK Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust 2 
		
	
	
		
			 RBN St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 RBT Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 RBZ Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust 1 
			 RC1 Bedford Hospital NHS Trust 2 
			 RC3 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 3 
			 RC9 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RCB York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RCX The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Trust 1 
			 RD1 Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust 2 
			 RD8 Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RDE Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 RDU Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RDZ The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 3 
			 REF Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust 4 
			 RF4 Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust 3 
			 RFF Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 3 
			 RFR The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RFS Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RFW West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 2 
			 RGC Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust 4 
			 RGN Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RGP James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 3 
			 RGT Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RHQ Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 7 
			 RHU Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 3 
			 RHW Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RJ1 Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust 13 
			 RJ2 The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 1 
			 RJ6 Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust 3 
			 RJ7 St George's Healthcare NHS Trust 5 
			 RJC South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RJD Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 RJE University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust 2 
			 RJF Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RJL Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 RJR Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RJZ King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 9 
			 RK5 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 3 
			 RK9 Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust 4 
			 RL4 The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust 3 
			 RLT George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust 2 
			 RM1 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 3 
			 RM2 University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust 2 
		
	
	
		
			 RN3 Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 3 
			 RN5 Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 RNA The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 RNH Newham University Hospital NHS Trust 4 
			 RNJ Barts and The London NHS Trust 7 
			 RNZ Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RP1 Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 3 
			 RP5 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 1 
			 RPA Medway NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RQ6 Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust 5 
			 RQ8 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 1 
			 RQM Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 19 
			 RQW The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 1 
			 RQX Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 5 
			 RR1 Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust 4 
			 RR8 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 5 
			 RTG Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RTH Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 2 
			 RTK Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust 2 
			 RTR South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 3 
			 RV8 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 4 
			 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 2 
			 RVR Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust 2 
			 RVY Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust 1 
			 RW3 Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 7 
			 RW6 Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 4 
			 RWE University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust 4 
			 RWF Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 2 
			 RWG West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust 4 
			 RWW Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RWY Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust 2 
			 RX1 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 3 
			 RXF Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 RXH Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust 8 
			 RXK Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust 2 
			 RXP County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust 4 
			 RXQ Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 RXR East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 1 
			 RYJ Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust 17 
			 RYQ South London Healthcare NHS Trust 4 
		
	
	
		
			 RYR Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 4 
			 Notes: 1. The new headcount methodology for 2010 data is not fully comparable with previous years data due to improvements that make it a more stringent count of absolute staff numbers. Further information on the headcount methodology is available in the Census publication. Headcount totals are unlikely to equal the sum of components. 2. Data quality. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where changes impact on figures already published, this is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. Source: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census

Genito-urinary Medicine: Lancashire

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what action his Department is taking to increase access to (a) HIV testing services, (b) sexually transmitted infection testing services and (c) contraception services in (i) East Lancashire and (ii) Pendle;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that people in (a) East Lancashire and (b) Pendle are able to access information from accurate sources about HIV, sexually transmitted infections and contraception.

Anne Milton: Our new sexual health policy document to be published later this year will set out our vision for improving sexual health across England, including East Lancashire and Pendle.
	We are shortly due to publish our response to the consultation exercise ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Update and Way Forward’, a copy of which will be made available in the Library. Subject to Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill allows the Secretary of State to delegate some of his functions to other bodies, and to require local authorities to take certain steps. These steps include a plan to mandate appropriate access to sexual health services.

Health Protection Agency

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to decide on the reconfiguration of Health Protection Agency sites.

Anne Milton: The Health Protection Agency has put forward a business case for the replacement of its microbiology laboratories at Porton Down. The Department is assessing this business case, and a decision on the way forward will be taken when the assessment is completed.

Health Protection Agency

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Health Protection Agency Staff will be transferred to Public Health England organisations on their existing employment terms and conditions.

Anne Milton: Staff who transfer from the Health Protection Agency into Public Health England will do so on their existing terms and conditions of employment.

Health Services

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many proposed reconfigurations of local health services he has approved on the basis of (a) quality and (b) safety since May 2010; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  in respect of which hospitals he has agreed to the reconfiguration of local acute health services since May 2010; and which services have been (a) discontinued, (b) downgraded and (c) reconfigured at each such hospital.

Simon Burns: Reconfiguration of local health services is a matter for the local national health service.
	Since May 2010, the Secretary of State for Health, has asked the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) to review 10 referrals to him from local overview and scrutiny committees who have contested changes to local health services. Of those 10 referrals, the Secretary of State for Health has accepted IRP advice on eight. He has yet to make a decision on the two remaining referrals.
	Full details of local proposals for change, individual referrals from those overview and scrutiny committees, together with the panel's advice to the Secretary of State for Health can be found at:
	www.irpanel.org.uk/view.asp?id=56
	Any changes to NHS services must be to ensure patients get the best care possible, delivered to the highest standards.

Health Services: Greater London

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the report and recommendations of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel into the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey proposals for health services; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) has now submitted its report on the proposals set down in the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Clinical Strategy to the Secretary of State for Health.
	The IRP will publish its report on its website once my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, has, in due course, fully considered the report’s recommendations and made his final decision public.

Health Services: Negligence

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to address clinical negligence by health professionals in the UK who are not British nationals.

Anne Milton: All statutorily regulated health professionals, regardless of their nationality or country of origin, are subject to the standards of performance and conduct set by their regulatory body. Where individuals fall short of these standards the regulatory bodies can investigate and consider whether fitness to practise action is required.
	In addition, employers and organisations that contract with health professionals also have a key role in making sure that those they engage have suitable skills to carry out the duties expected of them safely. Should the performance of such professionals, regardless of their nationality or country of origin, not meet acceptable standards then they have a duty to take appropriate action.
	The role of the Responsible Officer, introduced by Parliament in January 2011, is an important statutory role in evaluating the fitness to practise of individual doctors. They will play a key role in supporting all doctors to improve the quality of care they provide and in ensuring that prompt action is taken in the small number of cases where concerns arise about the practice of individual doctors.
	Medical Revalidation, which the General Medical Council is planning to introduce in late 2012, subject to a test of readiness, will provide a mechanism to re-affirm that doctors are up to date and fit to practise. Structured annual appraisals will underpin the revalidation process and these appraisals will be based on evidence from the doctor, colleagues, patients and local clinical governance systems.

Health Visitors: Training

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure health visitors have training in the identification of autism as part of his proposed health and development review.

Anne Milton: The content and standard of healthcare training is the responsibility of the independent regulatory bodies.
	Through their role as the custodians of quality standards in education and practice, these organisations are committed to ensuring high quality patient care delivered by high quality health professionals and that healthcare professionals are equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to deal with the problems and conditions they will encounter in practice.
	In order to achieve the best possible outcomes for training in the identification of autism for both staff and patients alike, we are working closely with the Nursing Midwifery Council, the independent regulatory body responsible for quality assuring health visitor education and the further and higher education sectors to review the training requirements of educational programmes.
	The “Health Visitor Implementation Plan 2011-15, A Call to Action” sets out our intention to improve the quality of health visiting services for children and families. A copy has already been placed in the Library.

HIV Infection

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) England and (b) East Lancashire have HIV.

Anne Milton: In 2009, the latest year for which estimates are currently available, the Health Protection Agency has estimated that 81,500 people were living with HIV in England, of whom 26% (22,200) were unaware of their infection.
	There were 126 diagnosed HIV-infected individuals living in East Lancashire Primary Care Trust in 2009. The overall number of people living with HIV (including those with undiagnosed infection) cannot be estimated at primary care trust or local authority levels.

HIV Infection: East Lancashire

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to reduce the number of late diagnoses of HIV in (a) East Lancashire and (b) Pendle.

Anne Milton: We understand that NHS East Lancashire has taken steps to improve early diagnosis of HIV, with a training scheme in general practice to raise awareness of HIV symptoms. This has lead to an increase in HIV testing.
	The Department has also been taking action to reduce undiagnosed and late diagnosis of HIV. We invested £750,000 in eight pilot projects in high prevalence areas looking at new approaches to HIV testing in primary care, non-specialist hospital settings and community social settings.
	On 1 December, the Health Protection Agency published an interim report, ‘Time to test for HIV: Expanded healthcare and community HIV testing in England’, on its review of these pilots. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.
	In 2011 the Department has also funded the Medical Foundation for AIDS and Sexual Health to produce an innovative web-based resource pack, for use in educating and supporting primary care professionals to increase rates of HIV testing.

HIV Infection: East Lancashire

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in East Lancashire who are HIV positive but are not aware of their infection.

Anne Milton: The Health Protection Agency has advised that estimates of the number of people living with HIV, who are unaware of their status, cannot be made at primary care trust level.

HIV Infection: Pendle

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Pendle were diagnosed with HIV in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: The information is not available in the format requested. The available information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Individuals newly diagnosed with HIV in East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust: New HIV diagnoses by year of diagnosis, 2006-2010. 
			  Year of diagnosis 
			  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 HIV diagnoses 11 14 21 23 17 
			 Notes: 1. These data represent new HIV diagnoses made in East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust which includes but is not limited to the borough of Pendle. It is not possible to present new HIV diagnosis data at local authority level. The geographical region presented relates to area of diagnosis and does not necessarily reflect patient residence. 2. Patients may live with HIV for many years before they are diagnosed. Therefore new diagnosis data do not necessarily reflect recently acquired infections. Diagnoses are from reports received to end December 2010. Numbers will rise as further reports are received.

Infant Mortality: Disadvantaged

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons public health guidance on reducing infant mortality among those living in disadvantaged circumstances has been suspended; and when he expects such guidance to be re-issued.

Anne Milton: The development of this guidance was suspended because of the overlap with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on Pregnancy and Complex Social Factors (CG110) issued in September 2010. This guidance addressed the additional antenatal needs of women in vulnerable groups, including young women under 20, with a view to improving outcomes and reducing mortality. This group of young women under 20 was the proposed focus of the suspended guidance. We will review the need for additional NICE guidance in the context of “Healthy Lives, Healthy People” (Cm 7985) and further policy development around infant, maternal and child health.

Learning Disability

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take in relation to the recommendations of the report by Professor Jim Mansell entitled “Raising our Sights”.

Paul Burstow: The written ministerial statement on 10 February 2011, Official Report, columns 15-16WS, announced the Government's response to Professor Mansell's report, “Raising our Sights: Services for Adults with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities”. We accept and support the conclusions of the report, which was commissioned by the Department.
	The elements of good service and good practice examples included in this report sit very clearly within the programme of work which the Government are leading to support independent living for people with learning disabilities, and to support local service planning and commissioning to meet identified needs in their locality.
	I announced on 7 June 2011, Official Report, columns 13-15WS, that I have asked officials to draw together the key lessons from the reviews being undertaken by the Care Quality Commission, the national health service and safeguarding boards into the events at Winterbourne View hospital. The recommendations of the Mansell report will be addressed within that work and Professor Mansell is assisting the Department in the examination of the issues.
	On 4 March 2011, Official Report, column 49WS, a written ministerial statement announced continued Government support to help improve the health and lives of people with learning disabilities:
	Extending the Department's contract with the Norah Fry Research Centre for a further two years to March 2013 to run a confidential inquiry into the premature and avoidable deaths of people with learning disabilities.
	Continued support by the Department for a further two years to March 2013 of a public health observatory service in relation to people with learning disabilities, currently hosted by North East Public Health Observatory.
	Continued funding by the Department in 2011-12 of up to £200,000 to support the work of the National Forum for People with Learning Difficulties and the National Valuing Families Forum. The Fora have a key role in helping Government understand the issues and challenges that people with learning disabilities and their families and carers face.

Leukaemia

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of patients diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia who are expected to require second-line therapy in the next 12 months.

Paul Burstow: No estimate has been made of the number of patients diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) who are expected to require second-line therapy in the next 12 months. CML is very rare and it is estimated that about 560 people are diagnosed with CML in the United Kingdom each year.

Leukaemia: Drugs

Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the preliminary decision of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence not to recommend dasatinib, nilotinib and high dose imatinib for the treatment of imatinib-resistant chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Paul Burstow: We have made no such assessment. Ministers are clear that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is an independent body and must be free to develop its technology appraisal guidance based on the best available evidence.

Medical Treatments

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost per quality-adjusted life year of each treatment recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence as a result of a technology appraisal in each year since 2007-08.

Simon Burns: This is a matter for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) as an independent body. I have asked the chief executive of NICE to write to the hon. Member with this information. A copy will be placed in the Library.

NHS Commissioning Board

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that (a) midwives and (b) pharmacists are represented in commissioning consortia.

Simon Burns: Aside from the inclusion alongside general practitioners of at least one registered nurse and a doctor who is a secondary care specialist, we do not intend to prescribe in detail the wider clinical professional membership of commissioning groups' governing bodies. We agree with the NHS Future Forum's report that it would be unhelpful for clinical commissioning groups' governing bodies to be representative of every professional clinical group. The prime purpose of a governing body should be to take key decisions and make sure that clinical commissioning groups have the right systems in place to do their job well. These systems will ensure they involve the full range of health and care professionals in commissioning.
	In addition, the Government are proposing a number of changes in the light of the Future Forum report to provide greater assurance that commissioning will involve a wide range of doctors, nurses and other health and care professionals. For example, we will strengthen existing duties on clinical commissioning groups to secure professional advice and ensure this advice is from a full range of health professionals where relevant. Clinical commissioning groups will also receive expert support and advice from clinical networks and senates on the design and delivery of services.
	These systems will ensure they involve the full range of health and care professionals in commissioning.

NHS: Debts

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS organisations were in deficit in each year since 1997; and what the level of deficit was in each case.

Simon Burns: The requested information has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Manpower

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of future workforce requirements in the NHS in each strategic health authority.

Simon Burns: As part of the 2011-12 integrated planning process, strategic health authorities are preparing plans and projections on the workforce requirements in each region up to March 2015. These will be published in the summer in strategic health authority board papers.

NHS: Pensions

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received an annual payment under the NHS pension scheme in each financial year since 1997-98; how many are forecast to receive an annual payment under that scheme in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2015-16; and what the average annual payment in each year was or is forecast to be for each financial year from 1997-98 to 2015-16.

Simon Burns: The number of people who received annual payments under the NHS pension scheme and the average annual payments from 1997-98 to 2010-11 are included in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of people who received annual payment under the NHS pension scheme Average annual payments under the NHS pension scheme (£) 
			 1997-98 428,946 10,602 
			 1998-99 442,694 11,931 
			 1999-2000 450,900 11,809 
			 2000-01 462,000 11,309 
			 2001-02 473,380 11,212 
			 2002-03 488,889 11,088 
			 2003-04 503,793 10,811 
			 2004-05 520,167 10,912 
			 2005-06 536,407 11,306 
			 2006-07 558,079 11,238 
			 2007-08 583,705 11,532 
			 2008-09 610,248 11,455 
			 2009-10 638,610 11,454 
			 2010-11 669,090 10,641 
		
	
	Information forecasting the number of people who will receive an annual payment from 2010-11 to 2015-16 is not available to the NHS Pensions Agency but the forecast total annual payments from 2011-12 are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2011-12 5,113 
			 2012-13 5,547 
			 2013-14 5,955 
			 2014-15 6,404 
			 2015-16 6,891

NHS: Pensions

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the expenditure of his Department on (a) employer contributions to NHS pensions and (b) outlays on NHS pension scheme (i) if there were no changes to levels of contributions, (ii) if there were no changes to final salary pension schemes, (iii) if there were no changes to the retirement age and (iv) if pensions were linked to the retail prices index in each year from 2010-11 to 2015-16.

Simon Burns: The following table sets out actual and estimated employer contributions to the NHS Pensions Agency for the period 2010-11 to 2015-16 based on information presented in the Office for Budgetary Responsibility's Spring Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2011. These figures assume there were no changes to levels of contributions, no changes to final salary pension schemes and no changes to retirement age.
	
		
			  Actual (£000) Forecast (£ billion) 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 
			 Employer contributions 5,553,234 5.5 5.6 5.8 5.9 6.1 
			 Forecast expenditure 6,931,349 7.1 7.7 8.1 8.7 9.3 
		
	
	These figures include the effects of indexation based on consumer prices index (CPI) as the measure of inflation for forecast expenditure. The use of the retail prices index (RPI) would increase expenditure in these years as currently the RPI is higher than that of the CPI and therefore using RPI for indexation purposes would increase the level of expenditure forecast for these years.
	Discussions of other changes to public service pensions with trades unions are ongoing and as such, changes to the employer contribution rate, proposed changes to final salary pensions and proposed changes to the retirement age have not been incorporated into the forecast.

Nutrition: Health Education

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons public health guidance on using the media to promote healthy eating has been suspended; and when he expects such guidance to be re-issued.

Anne Milton: The Department asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to place a small number of public health topics on hold while we determine the most effective ways of approaching major public health issues, taking into account developments in these areas. In relation to guidance on healthy eating, we are currently considering whether there is sufficient new evidence to inform guidance development. We currently have no timescale for a decision on this topic.

School Milk

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to (a) mark World School Milk Day 2011 and (b) promote the uptake of free nursery and subsidised school milk.

Anne Milton: The Department has no plans to mark World School Milk Day on 28 September 2011.
	The Nursery Milk Scheme has been running for many years and we believe that awareness of the scheme is high, with over 50,000 child care providers currently registered with the Nursery Milk Reimbursement Unit. The Nursery Milk Scheme is the only milk scheme run by the Department.

Sexual Health Services

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements his Department plans to put in place for provision of contraceptive and sexual health services during the change in NHS commissioning arrangements.

Anne Milton: “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Update and Way Forward” published on 14 July 2011, a copy of which is available in the Library, states that local authorities will assume responsibility for commissioning most contraception and other sexual health services from 1 April 2013. The national health service will remain responsible for commissioning these services up to that date. As with other elements of public health commissioning, the Department, the NHS and the new public health structures will work together to ensure the continued provision of high quality services during the transition period and transfer of commissioning responsibilities.

Telemedicine

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2011, Official Report, column 651W, on telemedicine, what the timetable is for publication of the (a) analysis and (b) findings of the Whole System Demonstrator programme;
	(2)  what the reasons are for the time taken to publish the findings of the Whole System Demonstrator programme; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when he plans to publish the reports on the outcomes of the Whole System Demonstrator programme; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: Recruiting over 6,000 people to the Whole System Demonstrator programme took considerable time and effort. The study itself is focused on five detailed themes, making it what we believe to be the largest randomised control trial of telehealth and telecare in the world. The result has been considerable amounts of data that are currently undergoing detailed analysis, to be followed by peer review.
	As soon as that analysis and review is completed, the results will be made public and the Department can assess what further action is appropriate.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what standards the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate sets in respect of the provision of housing and care by designated establishments under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Lynne Featherstone: Standards for the housing and care of laboratory animals are set out in separate codes of practice for scientific procedure establishments and breeding and supplying establishments designated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. These codes of practice can be accessed through the Home Office website.

Animal Experiments: Dogs

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to require companies building new facilities for breeding dogs for use in scientific procedures to comply with (a) UK Codes of Practice for housing and care and (b) standards set out in European Directive 2010/63/EU.

Lynne Featherstone: Under standard condition 2 applicable to certificates of designation granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, designated breeding and supplying establishments must ensure that the areas of the establishment approved for the housing of protected animals are maintained to at least the standards set out in the Home Office Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals in Designated Breeding and Supplying Establishments except where variations are authorised by the Secretary of State.
	Standard condition 9 requires that in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals used in Scientific Procedures, all protected animals must at all times be provided with adequate care and accommodation appropriate to their type or species. Any restrictions on the extent to which such an animal can satisfy its physiological and ethological needs shall be kept to the absolute minimum; and the health and well-being of protected animals, and the environmental conditions in all parts of the establishment where protected animals are kept, shall be checked at least once daily by competent persons. Arrangements shall be made to ensure that any suffering or defect discovered is remedied as quickly as possible.
	The mandatory standards of housing and care of animals set out in Annex III to European Directive 2010/63/EU must be implemented from 1 January 2013. Standard conditions will be reviewed to take account of these requirements when the new Directive is transposed into United Kingdom legislation.

Animal Experiments: Dogs

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many exceptions have been granted for dogs by her Department under section 10, subsection (3), of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) 2011 to date; what the grounds were for each exception granted; what the purpose was of the project licence under which each such exception was granted; what the country of origin was in each case; and where each such dog was obtained from.

Lynne Featherstone: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Animal Experiments: EU Law

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2011 by Baroness Neville-Jones, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA1, on animal experimentation, when she will report on the outcome of her Department's public consultation on European Union Directive 2010/63/EU; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: The closing date for the public consultation on the transposition of European Union Directive 2010/63/EU is 5 September 2011. We aim to report on the outcome within three months of the closing date.

Animal Experiments: Scotland

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of project licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Scotland was in the (a) mild, (b) moderate, (c) substantial and (d) unclassified severity banding at the end of 2010.

Lynne Featherstone: During 2010, in Scotland, 37% of the project licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 that were in force at the end of 2010 were in a mild severity banding, 58% in moderate, 2% in substantial and 3% were in an unclassified severity banding.

Animal Experiments: Scotland

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many infringements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were recorded in Scotland in 2010; and how many such infringements led to a prosecution.

Lynne Featherstone: Four infringements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were reported at designated establishments in Scotland during 2010. No prosecutions resulted.

Bail

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people were released on pre-charge police bail for each type of offence in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many people failed to return to a police station after being released on police bail in each of the last three years.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Data on suspects detained by the police, held by the Home Office, cannot separately identify persons released on pre-charge bail, or those failing to return to a police station.

Chief Coroner

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence her Department holds on the financial effects on her Department over each of the next five years of appointing a chief coroner with the functions provided for by the Coroner and Justice Act 2009.

Damian Green: holding answer 11 July 2011
	The Department holds no evidence of the financial effects of the chief coroner on the Home Office. The cost of appointing a chief coroner would fall to the Ministry of Justice.

Closed Circuit Television

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many CCTV cameras there were per head of population in (a) York, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) England in each month since January 2010;
	(2)  how many CCTV cameras per square mile there were in (a) York, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) England in each month since January 2010.

James Brokenshire: The information is not held centrally

Control Orders

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been subjected to control orders that included relocation orders; and how many such individuals have subsequently absconded.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 27 June 2011
	Of the 52 individuals ever subject to control orders, 22 individuals have been required to relocate under the obligations of their control order. Of these, one individual subsequently absconded in 2007.
	Other individuals subject to a control order have relocated for voluntary reasons.

Crime: Victims

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of families of a victim of murder or manslaughter outside of the UK were allocated a family liaison officer by their local police force in the last 12 months.

James Brokenshire: Family liaison officers may be appointed by the police service to assist the families of those murdered or missing in suspicious circumstances overseas when there is an investigative role for them to undertake. Early contact with the family by a family liaison officer is thought to be of great benefit to both the affected family and the investigation team.
	Information on the proportion of families of a victim of murder or manslaughter outside of the UK that were allocated a family liaison officer is not held centrally.

Death: British Nationals Abroad

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department issues to police forces on liaison with foreign police forces in investigating the death of a British national when that death occurred overseas; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Guidance on this subject is issued to police forces by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) within appendix 3 of the Family Liaison Officer Guidance 2008. Appendix 3 deals solely with ‘Deaths Abroad’ and contains ‘Foreign and Commonwealth Office Guidance on British Nationals Murdered or Missing in Suspicious Circumstance Abroad’. A copy of the guidance will be placed in the House Library.
	This appendix is to be replaced by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) drawn up between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, ACPO and the Coroners Society of England and Wales which will ensure a joined up approach by all parties when the death of a British national occurs abroad. The MOU is currently in draft form pending sign off by the relevant parties.

Defence and Security Equipment International: Police

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of policing the Defence and Security Equipment International Exhibition between 13 and 16 September 2011.

Nick Herbert: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has not made an estimate of the cost of policing this event, as this is a matter for the Metropolitan police. Forces are able to apply for a special grant from the Home Office for policing operations in cases where the event is exceptional and unforeseen, subject to the costs meeting certain criteria. No special grant application has been received in relation to this exhibition.

Departmental Manpower

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serving officers in the Metropolitan Police Force were authorised to accept outside sources of remuneration, employment or consultancy in the latest period for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 14 July 2011
	This information is not collected centrally by the Home Office.

DNA: Databases

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what categorisation her Department assigns to the police work undertaken by (a) missing persons units and (b) the National DNA Database.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 9 May 2011
	In their recent report ‘Demanding Times’, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) defined and categorised police roles. The report can be found at:
	www.hmic.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Thematics/THM_20110330.pdf
	Work on the national DNA database is outside of the scope of the HMIC definition.

Domestic Violence

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases by domestic abuse incidents were reported in each constituency in each of the last four years.

Lynne Featherstone: h olding answer 14 July 2011
	The number of reported domestic violence incidents is not collected by constituency. However, the available information is shown in the following table which shows the number of reported domestic violence incidents by police force area, 2006-07 to 2009-10.
	
		
			 Number of reported domestic violence incidents by police force area, 2006-07 to 2009-10 (1) 
			 Police  force a rea 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 
			 Avon and Somerset 15,532 10,719 12,513 16,049 
			 Bedfordshire 7,341 7,289 8,095 8,693 
			 Cambridgeshire (2)6,874 8,908 11,353 11,603 
			 Cheshire 6,544 4,865 5,491 5,347 
			 Cleveland 10,845 10,879 12,205 13,685 
			 Cumbria 4,372 4,515 4,700 5,079 
			 Derbyshire 11,818 16,425 17,145 18,059 
			 Devon and Cornwall (2)13,973 23,789 25,872 26,181 
			 Dorset 5,458 5,867 6,517 6,437 
			 Durham 8,163 8,615 (2)8,219 (2)6,054 
			 Dyfed-Powys 9,758 2,836 2,201 2,034 
			 Essex 15,225 17,826 24,668 23,300 
			 Gloucestershire 8,237 8,921 8,697 (2)7,218 
			 Greater Manchester 64,727 (2)35,971 (2)54,055 68,991 
			 Gwent 2,229 7,399 (2)9,605 (2)4,832 
			 Hampshire 23,447 22,912 21,234 24,117 
			 Hertfordshire 10,926 11,280 11,780 11,835 
			 Humberside 12,752 13,444 12,536 15,325 
			 Kent (2)18,495 20,141 20,710 21,516 
			 Lancashire 22,360 23,030 25,518 28,270 
			 Leicestershire 24,439 9,033 10,651 11,149 
			 Lincolnshire 6,110 5,712 7,125 7,751 
			 London, City of 97 116 (2)243 (2)141 
			 Merseyside 25,568 29,033 30,169 27,110 
			 Metropolitan Police (2)67,201 84,026 (2)120,720 120,351 
			 Norfolk 7,893 6,241 7,097 9,193 
			 North Wales (2)9,682 9,860 9,434 10,951 
			 North Yorkshire 5,759 5,466 5,891 9,422 
			 Northamptonshire 6,780 9,586 10,479 10,697 
			 Northumbria (2)23,262 25,803 26,809 28,318 
			 Nottinghamshire 17,534 19,166 19,657 19,537 
			 South Wales 15,421 (2)16,196 18,423 8,389 
			 South Yorkshire 17,819 16,027 15,829 20,321 
			 Staffordshire (2)17,672 18,584 19,333 13,927 
			 Suffolk 5,339 (2)6,061 6,021 7,319 
			 Surrey 11,528 10,803 10,779 12,556 
			 Sussex 14,430 15,877 18,872 15,989 
			 Thames Valley (2)16,744 26,383 26,759 30,839 
			 Warwickshire (2)6,014 7,305 7,908 8,008 
			 West Mercia (2)11,775 13,241 (2)15,100 (2)15,444 
			 West Midlands 40,233 37,897 40,980 47,729 
			 West Yorkshire 34,400 30,276 28,412 27,976 
			 Wiltshire 6,600 6,433 6,242 5,783 
			      
			 England and Wales 671,374 674,756 766,047 793,526 
			 (1) All data are provisional and unverified with forces. (2) Data are estimated for non-response, based on ratios in other forces (e.g. domestic violence incidents; total violence against the person offences).

Driving Offences: Fines

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many fixed penalty notices were issued for vehicle insurance offences in each police authority area in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many fixed penalty notices were issued for vehicle registration and excise offences in each police authority area in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: Available data from 2005 to 2009 (latest published data) are provided in the table.
	Data for 2010 are scheduled for publication April 2012.
	
		
			 Number of substantive fixed penalty notices issued for various offences, by police force area, England and Wales 2005-09 
			 Offence description Vehicle insurance offences Vehicle registration and excise licence offences 
			 Police force area 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
			 Avon and Somerset(1) 63 115 289 0 420 7,537 8,020 10,362 8,248 7,861 
			 Bedfordshire 62 154 9 0 0 353 360 495 424 208 
			 Cambridgeshire 53 138 193 321 335 1,017 1,455 1,138 1,189 933 
			 Cheshire 101 203 137 106 319 1,445 1,112 1,630 1,743 1,412 
		
	
	
		
			 Cleveland 159 102 100 113 137 731 424 655 502 347 
			 Cumbria 0 0 0 0 0 170 196 279 411 251 
			 Derbyshire 0 112 314 182 250 433 497 613 815 401 
			 Devon and Cornwall 42 80 169 201 301 8,145 10,775 10,914 7,169 6,261 
			 Dorset 0 0 323 498 601 143 241 588 897 1,008 
			 Durham 7 13 1 0 0 109 200 127 211 104 
			 Essex 6 362 790 935 1,081 158 475 1,255 1,409 1,269 
			 Gloucestershire 0 3 163 140 192 51 118 191 83 156 
			 Greater Manchester 13 3 2 0 0 2,029 2,886 5,084 6,081 2,318 
			 Hampshire 125 393 635 858 1,087 2,371 3,189 3,096 2,342 1,568 
			 Hertfordshire 389 532 776 849 1,167 3,299 1,069 3,705 1,985 1,989 
			 Humberside 0 0 0 0 0 740 989 1,366 2,305 873 
			 Kent 31 249 303 256 473 1,505 1,699 1,905 1,894 1,551 
			 Lancashire 174 409 739 1,028 1,079 2,162 1,672 1,565 2,158 1,667 
			 Leicestershire 19 212 336 276 308 112 1,073 1,251 801 850 
			 Lincolnshire 0 46 28 44 95 1,031 1,729 1,029 1,111 589 
			 London, City of 9 51 37 38 51 1,989 1,849 1,318 1,057 693 
			 Merseyside 0 102 206 444 1,009 526 471 833 2,267 1,681 
			 Metropolitan Police 490 1,408 2,638 2,348 2,172 3,654 4,926 5,270 5,335 3,429 
			 Norfolk 0 1 111 376 523 176 339 399 699 574 
			 North Yorkshire 92 121 147 240 285 877 880 1,027 1,221 1,457 
			 Northamptonshire 93 74 107 171 336 1,455 624 406 298 280 
			 Northumbria 4 12 33 25 64 15,761 13,846 6,200 3,004 840 
			 Nottinghamshire 101 162 154 139 146 1,187 1,124 1,197 915 720 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 141 482 676 1,080 1,136 1,515 1,433 1,706 
			 Staffordshire 152 274 389 435 783 2,136 1,802 1,370 1,385 968 
			 Suffolk 0 95 296 756 549 561 792 965 1,004 915 
			 Surrey 0 12 36 440 436 581 1,008 554 1,797 1,640 
			 Sussex 0 115 491 820 1,065 60 554 1,052 1,091 1,366 
			 Thames Valley 0 0 673 875 730 746 414 2,081 1,436 1,015 
			 Warwickshire 70 146 173 167 290 773 527 413 391 401 
			 West Mercia 32 281 375 515 440 1,158 1,310 1,287 1,383 1,017 
			 West Midlands 0 3 14 95 210 662 735 916 1,918 1,270 
			 West Yorkshire 104 328 809 1,021 1,178 1,559 1,690 2,658 2,367 2,228 
			 Wiltshire 0 141 367 554 489 380 578 789 945 1,096 
			 England 2,391 6,452 12,504 15,748 19,277 68,862 72,784 77,498 71,724 54,912 
			            
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 153 197 218 299 275 384 414 
			 Gwent(2) 0 0 53 181 281 377 682 460 647 709 
			 North Wales 297 200 403 306 290 2,077 1,337 1,678 1,137 1,033 
			 South Wales 0 0 0 0 0 166 458 337 632 397 
			 Wales 297 200 456 640 768 2,838 2,776 2,750 2,800 2,553 
			            
			 England and Wales 2,688 6,652 12,960 16,388 20,045 71,700 75,560 80,248 74,524 57,465 
			 (1) Figure for vehicle insurance offences for 2008 to be reviewed. (2) Figure for vehicle insurance offences for 2008 revised since original publication.

Entry Clearances: Indian Subcontinent

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average the British high commission in (a) India, (b) Pakistan, (c) Bangladesh and (d) Sri Lanka took to process a visit visa application in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Average days to process 
			 Location Family visit Other visitor All visits 
			 Chennai (BDHC) 4.1 4.0 4.0 
			 Colombo (BHC) 1.5 1.5 1.5 
			 Dhaka (BHC) 7.3 4.6 5.9 
			 Islamabad (BHC) 7.7 6.3 6.8 
			 Mumbai (BHC) 5.7 6.3 6.2 
			 New Delhi (BHC) 6.5 4.7 5.4 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are for the period April 2010 to March 2011. 2. The data are based on management information. They are provisional and subject to change.

Entry Clearances: Mongolia

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many (a) student and (b) tourist visas her Department has issued to Mongolian nationals in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many visa applications made by Mongolian nationals were refused in each of the last five years.

Damian Green: The information requested by my hon. Friend about visa applications from Mongolian nationals in each of the last five years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Visa applications from Mongolian nationals 2006-10 
			  Visa applications refused Tourist visas issued (1) Student visas issued (2) 
			 2006 540 754 278 
			 2007 836 893 1,262 
			 2008 1,559 331 663 
			 2009 960 339 750 
			 2010 867 325 659 
		
	
	
		
			 (1 )General visitors only, excluding family and special types of visitors. (2) Includes visas issued under PBS Tier 4 which was introduced in 2008. Note: This information is based on management information. It is provisional and subject to change.

Fixed Penalties: Noise

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices for noise offences were issued in each police authority area in each of the last 10 years.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 12 July 2011
	Available data from 2000 to 2009 (latest published data) are provided in the table.
	Data for 2010 are scheduled for publication in April 2012.
	
		
			 Number of substantive fixed penalty notices issued for noise offences, by police force area, England and Wales 2000 - 09 
			 Police force area 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
			 Avon and Somerset 36 44 27 31 26 34 60 30 57 64 
			 Bedfordshire 5 9 6 4 6 9 12 10 27 10 
			 Cambridgeshire 10 9 10 10 22 21 57 53 25 18 
			 Cheshire 5 10 16 12 14 21 38 24 29 66 
			 Cleveland 4 11 5 11 23 19 15 10 7 8 
			 Cumbria 4 6 7 14 13 35 45 32 62 36 
			 Derbyshire 18 13 9 16 16 17 16 11 7 17 
			 Devon and Cornwall 26 28 47 35 56 47 48 127 81 233 
			 Dorset 24 18 14 15 10 8 15 15 19 14 
			 Durham 20 25 24 18 13 16 14 13 7 6 
			 Essex 52 40 61 20 35 45 60 109 95 99 
			 Gloucestershire 13 24 14 10 4 9 12 9 3 6 
			 Greater Manchester 50 51 44 34 52 26 29 19 46 243 
			 Hampshire 14 21 22 25 32 38 39 44 53 73 
			 Hertfordshire 7 11 10 7 14 21 60 18 12 7 
			 Humberside 10 11 8 12 5 14 26 31 30 26 
			 Kent 34 24 36 38 34 109 73 39 72 152 
			 Lancashire 93 51 49 85 81 49 31 29 19 96 
			 Leicestershire 2 5 10 11 3 1 7 12 5 4 
			 Lincolnshire 9 14 5 182 251 218 20 34 37 25 
			 London, City of 1 4 1 86 32 25 17 4 1 5 
			 Merseyside 13 22 31 8 17 20 8 23 33 48 
			 Metropolitan Police 77 57 33 65 83 76 71 108 116 91 
			 Norfolk 25 23 29 17 29 38 30 21 41 32 
			 North Yorkshire 89 59 35 91 252 126 162 202 77 170 
			 Northamptonshire 0 0 3 4 0 2 1 13 5 2 
			 Northumbria 48 93 72 90 111 35 34 34 29 66 
			 Nottinghamshire 3 2 1 5 7 10 10 13 8 17 
			 South Yorkshire 9 21 11 11 23 17 19 18 11 20 
			 Staffordshire 10 12 10 12 12 14 13 18 17 224 
			 Suffolk 24 20 22 10 18 53 58 75 137 11 
			 Surrey 0 9 49 35 33 13 15 5 16 16 
			 Sussex 13 17 32 14 15 11 18 18 14 22 
			 Thames Valley 42 58 28 39 90 59 24 44 44 32 
			 Warwickshire 4 5 3 12 9 8 7 10 11 12 
			 West Mercia 26 45 51 35 30 83 81 124 106 134 
			 West Midlands 19 23 7 21 23 14 30 41 37 35 
			 West Yorkshire 13 16 17 25 22 17 32 21 32 28 
			 Wiltshire 22 26 18 38 25 24 24 13 20 27 
			 England 874 937 877 1,208 1,541 1,402 1,331 1,474 1,448 2,195 
			            
			 Dyfed-Powys 5 10 8 42 8 13 11 14 12 33 
			 Gwent 20 31 29 31 34 32 59 25 31 37 
			 North Wales 0 0 0 0 0 6 53 55 80 68 
			 South Wales 21 19 17 10 27 22 18 27 35 43 
			 Wales 46 60 54 83 69 73 141 121 158 181 
		
	
	
		
			 England and Wales 920 997 931 1,291 1,610 1,475 1,472 1,595 1,606 2,376

Hillsborough Independent Panel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget is for the Hillsborough Independent Panel; how much expenditure has been incurred; and when she expects the work of the panel to be completed.

James Brokenshire: As at the end of the financial year 2010-11, expenditure of £2.07 million has been incurred. I understand that the Bishop of Liverpool, the chairman of the Hillsborough Independent Panel, expects to be able to complete the work of the panel in spring 2012 and within the initial budget estimate of £4 million to £6 million.

Human Trafficking: Domestic Service

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases accepted for consideration as victims of trafficking by the national referral mechanism were trafficked into domestic servitude in the latest period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: Between 1 April 2009 and 13 July 2011, 290 cases were referred to the national referral mechanism (NRM) as potential victims of trafficking for domestic servitude.
	Of the 290 referrals that have had a decision, 167 cases have a positive reasonable grounds decision, of which 79 have a positive conclusive grounds decision.

Khat

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the number of reported criminal offences that have been linked to the use of khat in the last three years.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 11 July 2011
	The Home Office has not made an estimate of the number of reported criminal offences that have been linked to the use of khat. Although the Home Office collects data on the number of recorded criminal offences, it is not possible to link these data to the use of khat.

National Public Order Intelligence Unit

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will instruct Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary, as part of its inquiry into how intelligence that supports the policing of protest involving criminal activity is prioritised, gathered, assessed and managed by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU), 
	(1)  to examine and report on (a) the role of the NPOIU in the disclosure of evidence critical to a defence, (b) the time at which evidence critical to a defence was received by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and (c) the nature of discussions between the NPOIU and the CPS on the (i) timing and (ii) appropriateness of such disclosure;
	(2)  to examine and report on the policy of supervising officers on (a) sexual activity and (b) illegal drug use by undercover officers;
	(3)  to examine and report on the policy of the NPOIU on the use of undercover officers in relation to groups which do not espouse or practise violence; and if she will make a statement on her policy on such matters.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 7 July 2011
	In January 2011, Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary (HMIC) announced that it would carry out a review of the work conducted by the National Domestic Extremism Units, including consideration of how they manage intelligence. The terms of reference for the review have been published on their website. The Home Office will consider conclusions of the review in due course.
	The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is carrying out a separate independent investigation into disclosure issues around specific cases. The Director of Public Prosecution has also commissioned a separate review of the Crown Prosecution Service decisions on this specific case.

North Yorkshire Police Authority: Finance

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the North Yorkshire Police Authority spent in (a) cash and (b) real terms in (i) 2005-06 and (ii) each subsequent year.

James Brokenshire: While the Government provides core police funding, spending decisions are made locally by the chief constables and police authorities. Data on expenditure are not collected centrally. However, these data are published annually by The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

North Yorkshire Police: Manpower

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalent (a) police officers, (b) police community support officers and (c) police civilian staff were employed by North Yorkshire police force in (i) May 2010 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire: Figures are not collected for May 2010. As at 31 March 2010, there were 1,486 police officers, 198 police community support officers and 1,158 police civilian staff employed in the North Yorkshire police force.
	The latest published figures show that as at 30 September 2010, there were 1,452 police officers, 187 police community support officers and 1,153 police civilian staff employed in the North Yorkshire police force.
	These figures are full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number.

Police

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the average daily proportion of time spent on patrol by police officers in each of the last 10 years.

James Brokenshire: The measure of patrol refers only to time when an officer is patrolling but engaged in no other duty. Activity (such as advice to a member of the public) carried out while on patrol is recorded separately. The percentage of time spent on patrol therefore appears low and it is misleading to look at this element in isolation from other activities. Under this measure, officers spent 13.8% of their time on patrol in 2007-08 (the last year for which data are available) compared with between 13.6% and 15.3% in the four preceding years.
	Data were not collected before 2003 and have not been collected since 2007-08.
	The estimated proportion of time spent on patrol by officers over the course of a two week period police are given in the following table.
	
		
			 Year (1) Time spent on patrol (2)  (percentage) 
			 2003-04(3) 14.20 
			 2004-05 15.30 
			 2005-06 14.00 
			 2006-07 13.60 
			 2007-08(4) 13.80 
			 (1) Data were not collected before 2003. The information is taken from activity analysis, which is collected by all forces over a two-week period in each year and provides a snapshot of how officers are deployed. (2) Includes officers on foot/car/beat patrol, CID and traffic officers. (3) Data were not collected before 2003. (4 )Excluding Staffordshire.

Police: Accountability

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to publish the proposals for secondary legislation governing the procedures for election of police commissioners.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 14 July 2011
	The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill is currently before Parliament. Secondary legislation will follow Royal Assent.

Police: Bureaucracy

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the standardisation of forms used by police forces in England and Wales.

James Brokenshire: The Government are working closely with the Reducing Bureaucracy Programme Board, chaired by Chief Constable Chris Sims, to cut police bureaucracy. As part of this work, where bureaucracy can be reduced through the standardisation of police forms the Board will take action.

Police: Conditions of Employment

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on serving police officers being authorised to undertake other paid employment in their own time.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 14 July 2011
	It is for chief officers to approve or refuse applications by serving police officers for business interests or additional employment. The Police Regulations 2003 place restrictions on the private lives of police officers designed to secure the proper exercise of the functions of a constable. Guidance on the management of business interests and additional occupations for police officers has been issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Probation: Information and Communications Technology

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the public purse was, at current prices, of the Probation Office's IT systems upgrade and case records and management system (Crams).

Crispin Blunt: I have been asked to reply.
	Rollout of the National Probation Service Information Systems Strategy (NPSISS), for a common high quality information technology infrastructure and a case recording and management system (CRAMS) across probation services in England and Wales, commenced in 1995. Costs for NPSISS and CRAMS were reported in a National Audit Office Report on “The Implementation of the National Probation Service Information Systems Strategy”, published on 23 April 2001. This stated full anticipated economic costs of NPSISS infrastructure, support and CRAMS, together with expenditure by individual probation services on supplementary equipment and software, as £125 million by the end of 2001. This figure is at 2001 prices: a more precise calculation of the monetary value of CRAMS at current prices could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Terrorism: Greater London

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to publish her response to Lady Justice Hallett's report under rule 43 of the Coroner's Rules 1984 relating to the coroner's inquests into the London bombings of 7 July 2005; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Under the coroners Rules 1984, it is for the coroner to provide a copy of the Government response to the Lord Chancellor and to any person she has designated an Interested Person in the inquests' proceedings. It is also for her to provide it to anyone who she believes may find it useful or of interest. It is then for the Lord Chancellor to consider publishing the responses to the inquests report, including the Government response.
	Under these rules, I cannot make any substantive statement on the response until publication, but once this has taken place my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department will make a statement to the House.

Travel Requirements

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussion she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on changes to limits on travel within the EU and the implications of any such change for travel to and from the Irish Republic.

Damian Green: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has not had any discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on this issue.

UK Border Agency: Redundancy

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential effects of proposed job reductions at the UK Border Agency on (a) levels of illegal immigration and (b) other security threats at UK borders.

Damian Green: The priority of the UK Border Agency (UKBA) remains to secure the border and to control migration while it plays its part in reducing the public deficit. The Agency will be smaller, but more efficient, and we believe it will still be able to deliver its commitments. This is set out in the Agency's Business Plan, UKBA Business Plan 2011-15.

Violent and Sex Offender Register: Offences Against Children

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the inclusion on the sex offender register of those convicted of offences related to the sexual abuse of children.

Lynne Featherstone: Schedule 3 to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 clearly sets out the offences that will make an individual subject to the notification requirements (commonly referred to as the Sex Offenders' register). This schedule includes a number of offences which relate to sexually harmful behaviour towards children.

CABINET OFFICE

Deaths: Cancer

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the mortality rate of cancer patients in (a) Barnsley Central, (b) South Cambridgeshire and (c) Witney constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what estimate has been made of the mortality rate of cancer patients in (a) Barnsley Central, (b) South Cambridgeshire and (c) Witney constituency in the latest period for which figures are available. (66174)
	The table following provides the age-standardised mortality rate per 100,000 population, where the underlying cause of death was cancer, for persons in (a) Barnsley Central parliamentary constituency, (b) South Cambridgeshire parliamentary constituency and (c) Witney parliamentary constituency, for 2009 (the latest year available).
	It is not possible from the information given at death registration to state whether the deceased was a patient at the time of death.
	
		
			 Table 1: Age-standardised mortality rate per 100,000 population, where cancer was the underlying cause of death, Barnsley Central, South Cambridgeshire, and Witney parliamentary constituencies, 2009 (1, 2, 3, 4) 
			 Rate per 100,000 population 
			  95% Confidence interval 
			 Parliamentary constituency Rate Lower limit Upper limit 
			 Barnsley Central 193 168 218 
			 South Cambridgeshire 152 132 171 
			 Witney 133 116 150 
			 (1) Age-standardised mortality rates per 100,000 population, standardised to the European Standard Population. Age-standardised rates are used to allow comparison between populations which may contain different proportions of people of different ages. (2) Confidence intervals are a measure of the statistical precision of an estimate and show the range of uncertainty around the estimated figure. Calculations based on small numbers of events are often subject to random fluctuations. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures. (3) Cause of death for cancer was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C00-C97 (malignant neoplasms). (4) Figures are for deaths registered in 2009.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people have been (a) recruited and (b) made redundant from (i) his Department and (ii) each non-departmental body for which he is responsible since May 2010.

Francis Maude: All Departments and their non-departmental bodies are subject to the civil service-wide freeze on external recruitment. By exception only, after ministerial approval is given, Departments may recruit externally to fill high priority, business critical vacancies. The numbers of staff recruited externally by the Cabinet Office and its non-departmental bodies during 2010-11 are as follows:
	Cabinet Office: 33
	The Boundary Commission: 0
	National School of Government: 2
	The Civil Service Commission: 0.
	Both the Commission for the Compact and Capacitybuilders ceased operations on 31 March 2011. Information on recruitment is no longer available for these organisations.
	The Cabinet Office's other NDPBs during 2010-11 are advisory bodies whose work is supported by Cabinet Office staff. Information is therefore included in figures for the Cabinet Office overall:
	Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
	Civil Service Appeal Board
	Committee on Standards in Public Life
	House of Lords Appointments Commission
	Main Honours Advisory Committee
	Office of the Third Sector Advisory Board
	Security Commission
	Security Vetting Appeals Panel
	Senior Salaries Review Body.
	Individual Departments and agencies are responsible for making civil servants redundant, and the information requested is not currently recorded centrally. However, Departments will be reporting information about the numbers and costs of their redundancies and other early exits in their Resource Accounts this year.
	New compensation terms were introduced in December 2010. Severance pay is now calculated on the basis of one month's pay per year of service to a maximum of 21 months' pay on voluntary exits and a maximum of 12 months' pay on compulsory redundancy. Additional capping and tapering apply where individuals are over, or very close to, pension age. The changes were introduced to make the scheme more affordable.

Departmental Redundancy

John Redwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much (a) his Department and (b) each non-departmental body for which he is responsible has spent on redundancies since May 2010.

Francis Maude: Individual Departments and agencies are responsible for making civil servants redundant, and the information requested is not currently recorded centrally. However, Departments will be reporting information about the numbers and costs of their redundancies and other early exits in their Resource Accounts this year.
	New compensation terms were introduced in December 2010. Severance pay is now calculated on the basis of one month's pay per year of service to a maximum of 21 months' pay on voluntary exits and a maximum of 12 months' pay on compulsory redundancy. Additional capping and tapering apply where individuals are over, or very close to, pension age. The changes were introduced to make the scheme more affordable.

Employment: Romania

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many Romanian nationals are in employment in the UK.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many Romanian nationals are employed in the UK. 66833
	According to the Labour Force Survey (LFS), the number of Romanian nationals employed in the UK was estimated to be 57,000 for the period January to March 2011.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Government Departments: Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the carbon dioxide emissions from the Government estate in (a) June 2010 and (b) June 2011.

Francis Maude: Between 14 May 2010 and 13 May 2011 Government delivered a reduction of 13.8% in carbon dioxide emissions from its office estate. Under the Green Government commitments it is now committed to deliver a 25% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2014-15.
	It is estimated that from the office estate for June 2010 Government non-weather corrected emissions amounted to some 52,907 tonnes carbon dioxide. Departments are yet to fully report their emissions for June 2011.

Government Departments: Solar Power

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will discuss with ministerial colleagues the potential to fit solar panels to the roofs of buildings for which they are responsible; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: Government reduced its carbon emissions from the office estate by 13.8% in the 12 months to May 2011. Departments have deployed a wide range of technologies, including solar panels, to reduce their demand on energy. It is for each department to decide on the most cost effective measures to achieve their ongoing carbon reduction commitments.

Hewlett Packard

Mary Glindon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent discussions he has had with representatives of (a) Hewlett Packard, (b) trade unions and (c) the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the application by Hewlett Packard to transfer offshore elements of its Adams 2 contract with central Government; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: I have had no recent discussions with Hewlett Packard Enterprise Services (HPES) or trade unions on the application to transfer offshore elements of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Adams 2 contract. I have discussed this application with ministerial colleagues and officials in DWP. DWP has an existing contract for IT services with HPES which already makes provision for delivery of services from non-UK locations. DWP is currently in discussion with HPES regarding future Adams 2 plans. These discussions have not yet been concluded and specific proposals are not yet complete.

Hewlett Packard: Department for Work and Pensions

Mary Glindon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he has had discussions with representatives of (a) Hewlett Packard and (b) trade unions on the company's applications to transfer offshore elements of the Adams 2 contract with the Department for Work and Pensions; and when he expects a decision to be taken on this application.

Francis Maude: I have had no recent discussions with Hewlett Packard Enterprise Services (HPES) or trade unions on the application to transfer offshore elements of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Adams 2 contract. The DWP has an existing contract for IT services with HPES which already makes provision for delivery of services from non-UK locations. DWP is currently in discussion with HPES regarding future Adams 2 plans. These discussions have not yet been concluded and specific proposals are not yet complete.

New Businesses: Redditch

Karen Lumley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many business start-ups there have been in Redditch constituency in each of the last three years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many business start-ups there have been in Redditch constituency in each of the last three years.
	Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births are available from 2002 onwards in the ONS release on Business Demography at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	The table below contains the latest statistics available, which give the number of enterprise births there have been in Redditch constituency in each year since 2007.
	
		
			 Count of enterprise births in the constituency of Redditch from 2007-09 
			  Redditch 
			 2007 340 
			 2008 350 
			 2009 275

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Margot James: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many non-departmental public bodies (a) are operational and (b) were operational in May 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of bodies in each such category in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many non-departmental public bodies have been established in each of the last three financial years.

Francis Maude: Summary information on the size and spend of the non-departmental public body (NDPB) sector published by the Cabinet Office shows that on 31 March 2009 there were 766 NDPBs and that executive NDPBs received over £38 billion directly from the Government. Information for 2010 and 2011 will be published in due course.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Margot James: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many non-departmental public bodies have been (a) abolished since May 2010 and (b) earmarked for abolition in 2011-12.

Francis Maude: To date Departments have reported that 45 public bodies from within the scope of the public bodies review are now no longer an NDPB, or where appropriate a non-ministerial department or public corporation. The next status check is due at the end of July 2011.

Police: Business Interests

Helen Goodman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether former senior police officers are required to clear with the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments in the Cabinet Office any contractual arrangements with external organisations contemplated within a specified period of leaving office.

Francis Maude: The business appointment rules, operated by the Cabinet Office and the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, apply to former Ministers, civil servants, and members of the diplomatic service, intelligence agencies, and the armed forces. Police officers are not subject to these rules.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Electronic Government: Petitions

Annette Brooke: To ask the Leader of the House when he expects his proposed online petitions system to be operational.

George Young: The Government e-petitions system will be launched shortly. Petitions which reach 100,000 signatures will be communicated to the relevant departmental Select Committee, and to the Backbench Business Committee who will want to consider such petitions for debate.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa: Marriage

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make representations to the Government of (a) Mali, (b) Benin, (c) Burkino Faso and (d) Niger on (i) raising the minimum legal age of marriage for women and (ii) setting equal minimum ages of marriage for men and women.

Andrew Mitchell: Investing in adolescent girls, including raising the age of marriage and first pregnancy, is at the heart of DFID’s strategic vision for girls and women.
	Whilst DFID does not have bilateral programmes or representation in these countries, we do provide support through multilateral programming. Together with the FCO and Home Office Joint Marriage Unit, we work with UN and EU partners, and bilaterally, to implement the UN convention on the rights of the child and its two optional protocols, and encourage countries to fulfill their obligations.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people have been (a) recruited and (b) made redundant from (i) his Department and (ii) each non-departmental body for which he is responsible since May 2010.

Alan Duncan: Since May 2010, DFID has recruited 80 home civil servants.
	Since May 2010, DFID has not made any member of staff compulsorily redundant. There have been 24 voluntary redundancies during this period. These exits were made in line with the terms of the Civil Service Compensation scheme applicable at the time.
	DFID has two non-departmental public bodies, i.e. the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and the newly formed Independent Commission for Aid Impact. Seven staff were recruited to DFID's non-departmental public bodies since May 2010 and no staff were made redundant.

Departmental Redundancy

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) his Department and (b) each non-departmental body for which he is responsible has spent on redundancies since May 2010.

Alan Duncan: Since May 2010, the Department for International Development DFID has spent £1,831,185 on voluntary redundancies in line with the terms of the Civil Service Compensation scheme applicable at the time of departure.
	There have been no redundancies in the non-departmental bodies since May 2010.

Departmental Travel

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on transport in each category of spending in the latest period for which figures are available.

Alan Duncan: As a Government Department delivering results in developing countries, the Department for International Development (DFID) has a number of offices abroad. This is in addition to DFID's headquarters being split between two locations, East Kilbride and London.
	DFID minimises travel costs as much as possible, for example by using video conferences wherever possible, and has this year reviewed its ministerial car service, opting for a more cost-effective alternative.
	In financial year 2010-11, the Department for International Development spent £5.2 million on travel. The Department introduced a new travel policy in 2010-11 which reduced costs by £3.2 million (38%) from the previous financial year 2009-10, where the total figure was £8.4 million.
	DFID's spending for the last two years for air, rail, mileage, taxis and the Government Car Scheme are detailed in the following table:
	
		
			 £000 
			 Category spend 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Air 7,292 4,298 
			 Rail 493 463 
			 Mileage 21 24 
			 Taxis 255 193 
			 Government Car Scheme 355 212 
			 Total 8,416 5,190

Developing Countries: Agriculture

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what proportion of its funding for climate change adaptation and mitigation measures his Department has provided to smallholder farmers in the latest period for which figures are available.

Stephen O'Brien: Our central recording systems do not capture such detail for project expenditure. The UK Government have committed to providing £1.5 billion in Fast Start finance over the period 2010-12, to help the developing world carry out the urgent work needed to adapt to climate change, adopt clean technology and reduce emissions from deforestation. 50% of this will help developing countries adapt to climate change, a significant share of which is designed to benefit smallholder farmers.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) recognises that smallholder farmers are particularly vulnerable to climate change. For example, DFID-funded researchers in Ethiopia are working with farmers to make better decisions in the face of risks from drought. In Kenya, DFID supports research on improved early warning so that farmers can adjust their cropping strategies to increase production.

Developing Countries: Agriculture

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will consider the merits of allocating a proportion of the sum retained for allocation in the later years of the comprehensive spending review period to pro-poor, anti-hunger agricultural growth measures through his Department’s bilateral programmes.

Andrew Mitchell: At least 16 of the Department for International Development’s (DFID) bilateral programmes are currently planning programmes which will deliver improvements in the food security and nutritional status of poor people in the countries concerned. DFID also provides significant support for food security through our investments in agricultural research and our contributions to the work of relevant multilateral institutions such as the World Food Programme. Over the next four years, DFID’s support will stop 10 million more children going hungry and ensure another 4 million people have enough food throughout the year.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) has further allocation decisions to make in the later years of the current spending review period. These decisions will be informed by the need to meet the conditions of DFID’s spending review settlement and to ensure that the Department’s business plan objectives are delivered.

Developing Countries: Energy

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the recommendation of the UN Secretary General's High Level Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change that the international community should commit to ensuring universal access to basic energy services by the year 2030; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) recognises that energy is crucial to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs), both in helping to meet basic needs and in powering economic growth. With the MDGs expiring in 2015, the international community is thinking about what will come next. Clearly, climate change and energy are likely to be on the agenda. DFID is starting to engage in this process.
	DFID is at the forefront of supporting the shift to renewable energy sources and of ensuring that poor people can have access to the energy that will change their lives for the better. Together with the Department of Energy and Climate Change, DFID has provided funding to the clean technology fund (CTF) and the Scaling-up Renewable Energy programme (SREP). These investments are expected to provide enough electricity to supply the equivalent of almost 16 million households in both middle and low income countries.

Developing Countries: Energy

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to improve access to modern energy services for people living in poverty in developing countries.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development recognises that energy is crucial to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs), both in helping to meet basic needs and in powering economic growth.
	DFID is at the forefront of supporting the shift to renewable energy sources and of ensuring that poor people can have access to the energy that will change their lives for the better. Our support is through both multilateral and bilateral programmes. For example, together with the Department of Energy and Climate Change, DFID has provided funding to the multilateral clean technology fund (CTF) and the Scaling-up Renewable Energy programme (SREP). These investments are expected to provide enough electricity to supply the equivalent of almost 16 million households in both middle and low income countries. Bilaterally, in Bangladesh the Rural Electrification Development Project aims to provide increased access to affordable, sustainable electricity services in poor rural areas. Facilities for 337,000 new connections in the nine poorest areas of the country have been established.

Developing Countries: Marriage

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department plans to take to meet its objective of (a) working towards changing social norms that constrain women's choice and control over resources and (b) helping young women resist early and forced marriage in developing countries.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development's (DFID) Strategic Vision for Girls and Women recognises that giving girls and women greater choice and control over decisions that affect them helps to break the cycle of poverty from one generation to the. next.
	Through our country programmes in DRC and Nigeria, for example, DFID is supporting locally led action for social change, including: working with women's groups to challenge discrimination against girls and women; working with boys and men to re-dress unequal gender relationships; and supporting girls and women to participate in local and national decision making.
	Investing in adolescent girls, including delaying the age of marriage and first pregnancy is at the heart of the Strategic Vision. DFID provides support to tackle early marriage in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Kenya and Nigeria. In Ethiopia, our support will delay marriage for 220,000 girls in two specific locations, with the vision to expand to the entire Amhara region, which has the highest rate of child marriage in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Developing Countries: Marriage

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to encourage countries in receipt of financial support from his Department to (a) set and enforce a minimum legal age of marriage and (b) reduce the proportion of women who marry before the age of 18 years.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) is committed to protecting and promoting human rights for all people, including children. In taking decisions on the provision of aid, DFID takes into consideration the country Government's commitment to human rights.
	We work through our country programmes to support Governments to tackle early marriage. In Ethiopia, our support will delay marriage for 220,000 girls in two specific locations, with the vision to expand to the entire Amhara region, which has the highest rate of child marriage in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are also working with the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs in Ethiopia to develop the Government's capacity to implement national programmes to tackle early marriage.
	Together with the FCO and Home Office Joint Forced Marriage Unit, we work with UN and EU partners, and bilaterally, to implement the UN convention on the rights of the child and its two optional protocols, and encourage countries to fulfill their obligations.

Monitoring: Deforestation Saatellite Communications

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Earth observation satellite technology in monitoring global deforestation.

Alan Duncan: Satellite technology has important applications for monitoring global deforestation. The data generated from satellite images can have a powerful, positive impact on increasing transparency. The UK is a member of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) whose forest task group is working to support countries in establishing national forest-change monitoring systems.
	Technology alone cannot provide a solution to deforestation. It is equally important to work with developing countries to build government capacity to manage data, share data and apply analysis to planning decisions. Loss of forests often comes about as a result of poor governance, which results in illegal land clearance and illegal logging. To this end the UK Government are also working with a number of key forest nations to bring about improvements to forest governance.

Horn of Africa: Agriculture

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has considered the merits of measures to build long-term resilience into the national agricultural systems of the countries of the horn of Africa.

Andrew Mitchell: DFID sees building long-term resilience into national agricultural systems as key in reducing the effects of potential food crisis in the horn and across the whole of Africa. It is for this reason the UK Government provided a £10 million grant to the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) to boost agricultural productivity and improve resilience to food insecurity in Africa. CAADP is working with the national agricultural systems in Ethiopia and Kenya, among other African countries, to define strategies for halving hunger and achieving increases of 6% in agricultural growth each year through policy reform and better investment. For example, latest figures we have from 2009 show that annual agricultural growth rates were 6% in Ethiopia and 3% in Kenya.
	DFID also provides resilience through country-led programmes in Africa. In Ethiopia we support the Productive Safety Net Programme which provides cash and food transfers to around 8 million vulnerable people, while in Kenya we are supporting more than 60,000 of the most vulnerable households by providing regular cash payments through our Hunger Safety Net Programme.

Overseas Aid

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost was of (a) the Department's aid reviews and (b) its operational plans.

Andrew Mitchell: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 31 January 2011, Official Report, column 613W, which outlines the reviews I launched last year.
	The Government are determined to ensure that the aid budget is used effectively and delivers value for money for both the British tax payer and the world's poorest people. The Department for International Development's aid reviews will fundamentally change the way aid funds are spent in the future with a much clearer focus on results and value for money. After a comprehensive spending review, there is normally an allocation round, which in this case was replaced by a strategic review. This review is an essential part of Government business and an improvement on the previous arrangements.
	(a) The Bilateral Aid Review is estimated to have cost £137,000. The Multilateral Aid Review is estimated to have cost £72,300; the Humanitarian Emergency Response Review is estimated to have cost £269,220. These costs include visits to countries to gather information about the effectiveness on the ground and consult with key partners, external support and peer reviews where appropriate, and production of the reports. All of these were an essential part of ensuring a rigorous process. Staff across DFID also provided inputs into all three reviews.
	(b) There was no additional cost to the Department for its operational plans since these form part of the Department's normal business planning arrangements.

Overseas Aid: Schools

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his review of awareness-raising programmes in the UK has resulted in changes to criteria for determining grants for work in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: DFID runs one programme that provides grants for work in schools in the UK. This is the Global Schools Partnership programme which provides grants to help schools establish a partnership with a school in a developing country. The review of awareness raising programmes in the UK has not resulted in changes to the criteria for determining grants for work in schools under this scheme.

South Sudan: Politics and Government

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is giving to the Government of South Sudan to help it strengthen its functions; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: The UK is committed to a long-term process of nation-building, to develop the core functions of a democratic and accountable state and to integrate South Sudan into the regional economy. We have a number of capacity-building and service delivery programmes which seek to support this, including assistance to central and state ministries, to the national and state legislative assemblies, for security sector reform, and for the establishment of a customs service.

Syria: Politics and Government

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Syria; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: I continue to be concerned about the grave situation in Syria which shows no sign of abating. Protests across the country are still being met by unacceptable violence from the regime. Violent repression will only further undermine the regime’s legitimacy and raise serious questions about whether it is committed to the reforms it has recently announced. No meaningful political dialogue can take place while there is a brutal military crackdown.
	The UK has made clear that President Assad is losing legitimacy and must reform or step aside. The UK will continue to work with our international partners, including in the UN, to condemn the repression in Syria and call for the Syrian Government to meet their people’s legitimate demands. If the regime continues to choose the path of brutal repression, pressure from the international community will only increase.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Biofuels: Aviation

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will assess the potential effects on carbon dioxide emissions of the commercial development and use of aircraft biofuels and biofuel jet fuel blends; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government believe that sustainable biofuels have a role to play in reducing CO2 emissions from transport, particularly in sectors such as aviation where there are limited alternatives to fossil fuel.
	The Government are also working towards a co-ordinated, evidence-based bioenergy strategy, including an analysis of the best use of available biomass resources, and will soon be publishing an assessment of the costs and carbon reduction potential of biofuel use in aviation.
	As part of our development of a Sustainable Policy Framework for UK Aviation, the Department for Transport published a scoping document on 30 March 2011 that frames the debate on the future direction of aviation policy and asks a series of questions, including on use of biofuels in aviation. The responses to the scoping document will help to inform the development of a draft Framework, which we intend to publish for full public consultation in March 2012.

Carbon Sequestration

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of progress against the scheduled objectives of the carbon capture and storage projects.

Charles Hendry: Negotiations with the Scottish Power consortium on the UK's first carbon capture and storage project are ongoing, with the aim of reaching an agreement as soon as possible. Our objective remains that this first CCS demonstration project (“Demo 1”) is constructed by 2014-15 and operational as soon as possible thereafter. We also aim to launch a process by the end of the year to select further demonstration projects.

Conditions of Employment

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many meetings officials in his Department have had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the Government's employment law review since May 2011.

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change does not have responsibility for employment-related legislation. However, in common with Partners across Government, we have been consulted throughout on the proposals for the Employment Law Review.

Departmental Lost Property

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what property has been (a) lost and (b) stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the cost of replacement was.

Gregory Barker: The following departmental property has been lost or stolen between 12 July 2010 and 12 July 2011.
	
		
			 Item Lost Stolen 
			 Wireless internet dongle 4 0 
			 Blackberry 4 5 
			 Laptop 2 5 
			 Entrust Token 4 1 
			 RSA token 14 7 
			    
			 Replacement costs £5,300 £9,435

Departmental Procurement

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the annual value is of his Department’s current contracts in each sector in which contracts are held.

Gregory Barker: DECC records payments by supplier, not by contract, and the amounts in the following table relate to payments through the accounts payable system and exclude any payments that may have been made to contracted suppliers using government procurement cards (GPC). It would incur disproportionate costs to analyse GPC payments to identify which ones relate to contract suppliers.
	DECC’s 2010-11 spend is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Group spend (£ million) 
			 Corporate Supports Shared Services 33.6 
			 Energy and Climate Change International 0.9 
			 Energy Markets and Infrastructure 42.5 
			 National Climate Change and Consumer Support 12.1 
			 Science and Innovation Group 1.3 
			 Total 90.3

Redundancy

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much (a) his Department and (b) each non-departmental body for which he is responsible has spent on redundancies since May 2010.

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has not spent any money on redundancies since May 2010. The Department has responsibility for four non-departmental bodies, the:
	Civil Nuclear Police Authority
	Coal Authority
	Committee on Climate Change
	Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
	Of these:
	The Coal Authority has spent £554,000 on redundancies to 30 June 2011.
	The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has spent £4,795,590 on redundancies as set out in the 2010-11 Annual Report and Accounts.

Regulation

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what process his Department follows for the production of regulatory guidance; and how many officials in his Department were involved in the production of such guidance on the last date for which figures are available.

Gregory Barker: Guidance documents are produced by DECC in order to help people to comply with the law. There is no formal process in place but officials aim to work collaboratively with industry stakeholders in the production of new regulatory guidance as and when it is required. The Department does not collect data on the number of officials involved in the production of guidance documents.

Electric Vehicles

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what effects his proposals for electricity market reform will have on support for the use of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Charles Hendry: The electricity market reforms are focused on achieving the investment we need to deliver the secure, affordable and low-carbon electricity we need. EMR does not specifically focus on the uptake of electric vehicles. However, the reforms set out in the White Paper will ensure that the electricity generation is in place to support their use. It is anticipated that electrification of the heat, transport and other carbon intensive sectors may lead to a doubling of overall electricity demand by 2050.
	In addition, as part of the White Paper, the Government are seeking views on how to ensure that non-generation technologies and approaches to providing capacity—which could include reducing demand at periods of system scarcity by charging electric vehicles when demand is low—could participate in a capacity mechanism on a fair and equal basis with electricity generation.

Electric Vehicles

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the functionality of smart metering to support smart charging of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Charles Hendry: My officials have held various discussions with the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and Department for Transport officials, in taking forward the Smart Metering Implementation programme, including on the development of smart metering functionality requirements. These discussions have informed the Government's Response to the consultation on our “Smart Metering Prospectus”, published on 30 March 2011. Officials will continue to liaise as work on the Smart Meters programme continues.

Electricity

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration his Department has given to the likely need to revise the assumptions made in its consideration of reform of the electricity market in the case that the electricity market reform policies are classified as levies and subject to the Control Framework for DECC levy-funded Spending.

Charles Hendry: As set out in the consultation document published in December 2010, cost-effectiveness is a key criterion in developing the electricity market reform proposals. This includes affordability for consumers and implications for the public finances if the proposals are classified by the Office for National Statistics as tax and spend and are therefore subject to the DECC control framework for levy-funded spending.

Electricity

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has made an assessment of the (a) investment in the energy sector, (b) economic growth and (c) employment of his decision to conduct a review of electricity market reform.

Charles Hendry: The reforms put forward in the Electricity Market Reform White Paper will facilitate a green economy, with long-term economic and sustainable growth, and are complementary to policies such as Green Deal. The EMR White Paper and impact assessment provide more details to demonstrate how that the proposed policies will lead to more investment in the electricity generation sector, enabling investment in electricity generation and transmission of around £110 billion by 2020. EMR will lead to higher revenue certainty for low-carbon generators, hence enabling not only new sources of finance but also lower costs of financing.
	These reforms and our commitments to achieve emissions reduction and meet our renewable energy targets provide a basis for business and economic development in these new sectors and the creation of green jobs. The EMR White Paper and impact assessment have not undertaken any detailed assessments on the effects on overall employment levels.

Electricity: Finance

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  when he expects the next National Grid Electricity Transmission system operator incentives to be brought forward;
	(2)  what discussions he has held with Ofgem on forthcoming National Grid Electricity Transmission system operator incentives;
	(3)  whether he has discussed with industry representatives forthcoming National Grid Electricity Transmission system operator incentives;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the current National Grid Electricity Transmission system operator incentives;
	(5)  whether his Department plans to make a submission to Ofgem on forthcoming National Grid Electricity Transmission system operator incentives.

Charles Hendry: The Electricity Transmission System Operator Incentive Scheme is a matter for the independent energy regulator, Ofgem, in its role of regulating the monopoly companies which run the gas and electricity networks. The consultation on proposed changes to the incentive scheme closed on 8 July. Ofgem is currently in the process of finalising its position, which it will publish soon. While this is an important issue, it is one suited to the regulator to deal with due to its technical nature, concerning the detail of economic regulation. Therefore, while the Department is tracking developments, it is not actively involved in the details of the process.

Energy

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has made an assessment of the proportion of UK energy supply that will come from (a) renewable energy, (b) fossil fuel-based energy and (c) nuclear energy in 2020.

Charles Hendry: The proportion of UK energy supply that will come from different types of energy would depend on a number of variables including fossil fuel prices, technology costs and the carbon price. Different assumptions on those variables will lead to different energy mixes. The central scenario published in DECC's latest Energy and Emission projections using DECC central fossil fuel projections, carbon values and assumptions on technology costs is summarised in the following table:
	
		
			 Primary energy demand, central projection 2020 (percentage) 
			 Renewables and waste 13.6 
			 Nuclear 2.9 
			 Fossil fuels 83.1 
			 Imported electricity 0.4 
			 Source: Annex H, DECC Updated Energy and Emissions Projections, June 2010 
		
	
	This covers all use of energy products within the UK, including those used for heat, transport, electricity generation and non-energy uses. The figures are consistent with the UK's renewable energy target.
	In terms of fuels used for electricity generation, the central scenario using the same assumptions on fossil fuel prices, technology costs and carbon price for 2020 is:
	
		
			 All generators, central projection 2020 (percentage) 
			 Renewables and waste 30.5 
			 Nuclear 6.7 
			 Fossil fuels 56.7 
			 Other 6.1 
			 Source: Annex E, DECC Updated Energy and Emissions Projections, June 2010 
		
	
	This includes autogenerators and combined heat and power. The category ‘other' includes imports and storage.
	The full results of the projections and assumptions are described in the “Updated Energy and Emissions Projections” document
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/about/ec_social_res/analytic_projs/en_emis_projs/en_emis_projs.aspx
	DECC will publish new energy and emission projections later this year.

Energy: Local Government

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which local planning authorities returned the questionnaires referred to in section 5.4 of the Parsons Brinckerhoff report Update of UK Shadow Flicker Evidence Base, published for his Department on 16 March 2011.

Gregory Barker: Responses were received from the following local planning authorities:
	1. South Gloucestershire council
	2. Gloucester city council
	3. Tendring district council
	4. Barnsley metropolitan council
	5. Lancaster city council
	6. Rossendale borough council
	7. Uttlesford district council
	8. Charnwood borough council
	9. Sheffield city council
	10. Warrington borough council
	11. Northern Ireland Planning Service
	12. City and County of Swansea
	13. Orkney Islands council
	14. Perth and Kinross council
	15. Inverclyde council
	16. The Highland council
	17. North Lanarkshire council.

Fossil Fuelled Power Stations

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the contribution of oil and gas-fired power stations to overall energy supply.

Charles Hendry: The contribution of oil and gas fired power stations cannot be measured in terms of overall energy supply, because this is measured in terms of primary fuel, whereas electricity generated from oil and gas is a secondary fuel.
	Of overall electricity generation, provisional 2010 data show oil-fired generation contributed 0.9% and gas-fired generation contributed 46%. Final figures for 2010 will be published on 28 July 2011.
	Data from table ET 5.1, available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/source/electricity/electricity.aspx

Fuel Poverty: Rural Areas

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions his Department has had with Age Concern on fuel poverty in rural households.

Gregory Barker: The Department has regular engagement with Age UK on a variety of issues, including fuel poverty. The Department also discusses fuel poverty issues with Age UK at meetings of the Government's Fuel Poverty Advisory Group.

Fuels: Prices

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent representations his Department has received on the cost to businesses of petrol and diesel.

Charles Hendry: I have received a number of representations on the cost of petrol and diesel.
	The Government are aware of the significant impacts high oil prices are having on consumers, which is why the Chancellor announced a £1.9 billion package in the Budget to ease the burden on motorists.

Green Deal Scheme

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on ensuring that a 30-day payment guarantee applies to all suppliers in the Green Deal process; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: The Code of Practice for the Green Deal will require participants to comply with the provisions of the Prompt Payment Code administered by the Institute of Credit Management on behalf of BIS. We are also considering whether the introduction of a cashless supplier payment system might bring even speedier payments, as well as a number of other benefits.
	Both of these options will be set out in the consultation on the Green Deal to be launched in the autumn.

Green Deal Scheme

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reason small and medium sized enterprises already assessed to have met the required standards of workmanship for the Green Deal are required to join Green Deal provider pre-qualification schemes.

Gregory Barker: This is not the case. We have commissioned the British Standards Institute (BSI) to develop a Green Deal Installer Standard with industry by the end of this year. This will bring together the existing standards and develop new ones where necessary. We will then use the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) to provide independent accreditation of the existing certification bodies to ensure they are meeting this standard. Once a certification body has been accredited, those installers certified by that body will automatically be deemed as meeting the new BSI standard and will be able to use the Green Deal quality mark and supply into the market.

Natural Gas: Reserves

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the (a) gas and (b) shale gas reserves available in (i) Wales, (ii) each region of England, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland.

Charles Hendry: UK onshore proven conventional gas reserves, which are not broken down by region, are between 0.6-2.3 billion cubic metres (bcm).
	There are no proven shale gas reserves, because exploration for shale gas has only recently commenced in the UK and no commercial production has yet been demonstrated, so it is not currently possible to make an estimate of reserves.
	In a study for DECC, the British Geological Survey (BGS) had estimated that there could be potentially around 150 bcm of onshore UK shale gas resource potential (i.e. gas volumes that might be found by future exploration drilling). The BGS study is available on DECC’s oil and gas website via the following link:
	https://www.og.decc.gov.uk/upstream/licensing/shalegas.pdf
	DECC does not assess oil and gas reserves for Northern Ireland—this falls under the responsibilities of the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

North Sea Oil

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to reduce the amount of oil spillage by private sector drilling companies in the North sea.

Charles Hendry: The Department requires all offshore oil spills, irrespective of volume, to be reported. In accordance with DECC's investigation policy, all spills are investigated by inspectors from the Department's Offshore Inspectorate, and the relevant enforcement action pursued.
	Following the Macondo incident, we have increased the numbers of offshore inspectors and doubled the number of inspections to drilling rigs to ensure compliance with the regulations. In addition, my inspectors are increasingly focusing on prevention to ensure that best practices are shared and applied throughout the industry.

North Sea Oil

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has a contingency plan in place in the event of a natural disaster in the North sea caused by oil spillage; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: As a party to the United Nations convention on the law of the sea, the United Kingdom has an obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment. The national contingency plan for marine pollution from shipping and offshore installations (NCP) is one of the measures the UK has taken to meet this obligation and the Department for Transport’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is the custodian of this plan. The NCP’s purpose is to ensure there is a timely and measured response to an oil pollution incident.
	The operators of offshore installations bear the primary responsibility for ensuring that they do not pollute the sea. However, offshore installations may face problems that exceed the response capabilities that they can reasonably maintain. Therefore, the MCA may need to use national assets in the response to a marine pollution incident. The NCP sets out the circumstances in which MCA deploys the UK’s national assets to respond to a marine pollution incident to protect the overriding public interest. It also describes how MCA manages these resources.
	As detailed above, operators of an offshore installation or oil handling facility are primarily responsible for ensuring that they do not pollute the sea. All such operators must have an oil pollution emergency plan in place. These plans set out the arrangements for responding to incidents with the potential to cause marine pollution by oil. The plans, which are site specific, are reviewed by DECC, MCA and relevant environmental consultees before approval by DECC. The NCP supports and underpins an operator’s individual oil pollution emergency plan.

North Sea Oil

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will assess the effects of oil spillages by private sector drilling companies in the North sea on potential for oil exploration in the Arctic; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: The UK has no regulatory jurisdiction in any part of Arctic waters. Decisions on licensing and exploration activities in Arctic waters are the responsibility of the relevant governments.
	That is not to say that the UK has no interest in what happens within the Arctic Circle. We are observers in the Arctic Council which has recently set up a taskforce to look at a binding agreement on oil pollution preparedness and response and we have indicated a willingness to contribute to the work of that group.

Renewable Energy

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the contribution of (a) wind, (b) hydro-electric and (c) nuclear power to overall energy supply.

Charles Hendry: The following table shows the provisional percentage contribution of wind, hydro-electric and nuclear power to overall primary energy supply, as well as electricity generation, in 2010. Final figures for 2010 will be published on 28 July 2011.
	
		
			  Percentage of primary energy supply Percentage of electricity generation 
			 Wind 0.4 2.7 
			 Nuclear 6.1 16.3 
			 Hydro-electric 0.1 0.9 
		
	
	Data from tables ET 1.3 and ET 5.1, available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/source/total/total.aspx
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/source/electricity/electricity.aspx

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether energy providers may limit the amount of electricity households may sell back to the National Grid.

Gregory Barker: The feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme places obligations on electricity suppliers to make payments to households and others for every kilowatt hour of electricity generated by eligible small scale low carbon energy sources (the generation tariff), and to purchase energy exported to the wider energy market (the export tariff).
	For smaller installations with a capacity of 30 kilowatts or less, such as those that might be installed on a domestic property, the FITs scheme provides for the proportion of electricity exported in any given period to be estimated at a level determined by the Secretary of State. With the exception of micro-hydro installations, this is currently set as 50% of the total electricity generated. This deeming of exports allows for the level of payment for exported energy to be determined without the requirement of additional metering. These arrangements do not apply if an export meter already exists or is provided at the generator's expense.
	The first comprehensive review of the FITs scheme is currently under way and provides an opportunity to consider the approach to metering in relation to payment of the FITs export tariff, including the approach to deeming. The Government recently concluded a call for evidence on the review's scope and we are intending to consult on more detailed proposals later in the year.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had on the future level of payments from feed-in tariffs.

Gregory Barker: On 7 February 2011, the Secretary of State announced the start of the first comprehensive review of feed-in tariffs (FITs). This review is now underway and is considering all aspects of the FITs scheme, including tariff levels. We recently concluded a call for evidence on the review's scope and are intending to consult on more detailed proposals later in the summer. As part of the review process, Ministers and officials have had regular discussions with a range of interested parties.

Rural Areas

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether officials of his Department have had recent discussions with the Rural Communities Policy Unit in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Gregory Barker: Officials in the Department of Energy and Climate Change have a range of meetings with other Government Departments in the normal course of their work, including with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Solar Power

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he has taken to assist (a) community projects and (b) small businesses with the cost of solar photovoltaic installations.

Gregory Barker: The feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme provides support to non-energy professionals, including communities and small businesses, to incentivise the uptake of small-scale, low carbon electricity generation, such as solar photovoltaics (PV).
	As part of the Microgeneration Strategy, DECC promised advice by September 2011 for communities on buying groups. This will enable communities to get better value for money on a range of energy products including solar PV. This information will be published on Community Energy Online, a web portal developed by DECC for disseminating information to communities about renewable energy.

Utilities: Fees and Charges

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to simplify comparisons between the charges of utility companies for (a) product and (b) installation costs.

Charles Hendry: Ofgem is responsible for regulating gas and electricity supply. As part of its recent review into the effectiveness of the retail market, Ofgem proposes to clarify and simplify tariffs to help consumers find the best deal for them. Details of the review findings and proposals can be found online at:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Markets/RetMkts/rmr/Documents1/RMR_FINAL.pdf
	Network operators are required to publish their charges and terms and conditions for connection on their website. Details can be found at:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Consumers/ncamm/Documents1/Howdoigetconnectedtoanelectricitysupply.pdf

Wind Power

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to ensure sufficient stability in the market to facilitate private sector investment in offshore wind.

Charles Hendry: On 12 July the Department published its White Paper on electricity market reform, setting out an enduring framework for future investment in low carbon generation including offshore wind. Feed-in tariffs with Contracts for Difference will provide the necessary support and stable revenues to incentivise investment in low carbon electricity generation at least cost to the consumer.
	We have also set out robust transitional arrangements for renewables so as to maintain stable conditions for renewables investments and to maintain industry confidence while the new market arrangements are implemented. These reforms, alongside the Renewables Roadmap (also published on 12 of July), fully demonstrate our continued commitment to renewable electricity generation.

Wind Power

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to invest in skills and technology in offshore wind energy.

Charles Hendry: The information requested is as follows:
	Technology
	Under the DECC administered Environmental Transformation Fund Offshore Wind Demonstration scheme, £27,806,984 of capital grant support was awarded under three separate calls during 2009 and 2010 to 13 companies for 16 offshore wind technology development projects. This scheme was specifically aimed at bringing forward the demonstration of new components or technology to support the earlier deployment of large-scale multi-megawatt wind turbines.
	The Carbon Trust, which receives funding from DECC, has so far provided £3.7 million in funding for offshore wind technology innovation through the Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA), a collaborative research and development programme with eight energy companies which aims to reduce the cost of energy from offshore wind by 10% by 2020. DECC has committed in the region of £4.0 million to OWA in FY11-12; the eight industry partners have invested £5.9 million to date in OWA.
	On 12 July 2011, the Government and devolved Administrations published the Renewable Energy Roadmap. The roadmap sets out a comprehensive programme of targeted, practical actions to tackle the barriers to renewables deployment, enabling the level of renewable energy consumed in the UK to grow in line with our ambitions for 2020 and beyond.
	As announced in the roadmap, we are determined to drive down the costs of offshore wind and are establishing an industry taskforce to set out a path and action plan to reduce the costs of offshore wind, from development, construction and operations to £100/MWh by 2020. This will be supported by up to £30 million over the next four years for offshore wind innovation which, subject to satisfactory value for money assessments, will be used to fund schemes to drive cost reductions in components and technologies for offshore wind systems.
	Skills
	We are working with Sector Skills Councils and other partners to improve information about and strengthen the response to the wide range of skills needed to maximise the potential of the green economy, including those for offshore wind energy.

Wind Power: Crown Estate Commissioners

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the monetary value is of energy produced from offshore wind farms on the Crown Estate; and what the expected income from offshore wind farms on the Crown Estate is for the next 10 years.

Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
	No estimate is available for the current value of the energy generated in offshore wind farms on Crown Estate property.
	Estimates of future revenue are very uncertain because of a number of factors which cannot readily be forecast. Using DECC assumptions of July 2009, the Crown Estate's illustrative projections are that by 2020 its rental income from all renewable offshore activity could lie in the wide range £60 million to £200 million. The eventual amounts will be payable to the Exchequer, net of Crown Estate costs. No more recent assessments are available.

Wind Power: Nature Conservation

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the impact of wind farm developments on (a) birds and (b) other wildlife.

Charles Hendry: Each wind farm developer is required to complete an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as part of its planning consent application. This covers issues such as impacts on birds and wildlife and, for offshore wind, fish and marine mammals.
	For offshore wind, DECC undertakes a rolling programme of Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) and has an ongoing programme of research to back up the conclusions. These include projects to assess the impact of wind farm developments on birds and wildlife. DECC consulted on the latest SEA Environmental Report(1) earlier this year. This concluded that at a strategic level, there were no overriding environmental considerations to prevent the achievement of up to 33GW of offshore wind in the Renewable Energy Zone and English and Welsh territorial waters. A post-consultation report is due to be published shortly.
	http://www.offshore-sea.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info. php?categoryID=39&documentID=5

TRANSPORT

A537: Closures

Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions the A537 Cat and Fiddle Road between Buxton and Macclesfield has been closed in each of the last five years.

Norman Baker: This information is not held by the Department for Transport. The A53, A54 and A537 roads are the responsibility of Cheshire East council and Derbyshire county council as the relevant highway authorities. The closure of the roads and the collation of any statistics relating to those road closures is a matter for them.

Air Traffic Control: Swanwick

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the monetary value in real terms was of the (a) original estimate and (b) final cost to the public purse of the air traffic control centre at Swanwick; and what additional costs, in real terms, have been incurred since its completion.

Theresa Villiers: I refer the hon. Gentleman to page 11 of the National Audit Office's 2002 report “The Public Private Partnership for National Air Traffic Services Ltd”, published on 24 July 2002. This report was made available in the Library of the House when it was published. This is also available online at:
	http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/0102/the_ppp_national_air_traffic.aspx

Air Travel Trust Fund

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of sanctions which can be applied to holders of air transport organisers' licences which cease to trade having breached the terms of the relevant licence.

Theresa Villiers: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) can prosecute businesses for certain breaches of The Civil Aviation (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing) Regulations 1995, as amended, including contravening the terms of an ATOL licence. Depending on the offence, on conviction this can lead to either (i) a fine of up to £3,000 or (ii) a fine of up to £5,000 or two years imprisonment, or both.
	The CAA can also withdraw or refuse to grant or renew an ATOL licence if it is not satisfied that a business is fit to hold one or if it is not satisfied with the financial resources the business has available.
	The consultation on ATOL reform published on 23 June 2011 seeks views on potential changes to the offences and sanctions for breach of the regulations.

Aviation: Night flying

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 5 July 2011, Official Report, columns 87-88WS, on airport co-ordination (London Olympics), what estimate he has made of the potential change in the number of night flights at Heathrow between 21 July and 15 August 2012.

Theresa Villiers: It is not currently anticipated that there will be any change in the existing night movements limits for Heathrow airport during the summer 2012 season.

Aviation: Biofuels

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will assess the potential effects on (a) air transport and (b) airport capacity of the commercial development and use of aircraft biofuels and biofuel jet fuel blends; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether his Department was represented at the Paris Air Show; what assessment he made of the biofuel and biofuel jet fuel blend aircraft at the show; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: The Government believe that sustainable biofuels have a role to play in reducing CO2 emissions from transport, particularly in sectors, such as aviation, where there are limited alternatives to fossil fuel. The Department is working with our European partners, the wider international community and industry to explore how to bring about a significant increase in the use of sustainable biofuels in aviation, but was not directly represented at the recent Paris Air Show.
	As part of our development of a sustainable policy framework for UK aviation, the Department for Transport published a scoping document on 30 March 2011 that frames the debate on the future direction of aviation policy and asks a series of questions, including on use of biofuels in aviation. The responses to the scoping document will help to inform the development of a draft framework, which we intend to publish for full public consultation in March 2012.

Aviation: Primates

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many primates were (a) killed and (b) injured while transiting (i) through UK airports and (ii) on UK registered airline carriers in the latest period for which figures are available.

Theresa Villiers: The Department does not hold statistics on the transport of primates through UK airports or on UK-registered airline carriers.

Aviation: Security

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with (a) his EU counterparts and (b) the European Commission on the trialling of the searching of religious headgear at UK airports.

Theresa Villiers: I have not had any direct discussions with EU counterparts and the European Commission on the trialling of the searching of religious headgear.
	However, I have written to EU counterparts and the European Commission setting out the cultural sensitivities of the screening of religious headgear and outlining the UK approach.

Aviation: Security

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from representatives of the Sikh community on the screening of religious headgear at airports.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport has received a number of representations from individuals and Sikh community representatives. Several meetings with officials have taken place, which have resulted in the current ongoing trial of alternative screening arrangements.
	I have met various colleagues and discussed this with them. The issue has also been the subject of a Westminster Hall debate. Most recently, I met with Sikh community representatives on this issue on 12 July.

Aviation: Security

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions his Department has had with airport operators on increasing the speed of security checks of passengers.

Theresa Villiers: Officials from the Department meet regularly with airport operators to discuss various issues, including the screening processes for passengers.
	The safety and security of the travelling public remains paramount in the design and implementation of airport security checks. We recently published proposals to improve the way aviation security in the UK is regulated, to encourage operators to deliver security in more passenger- friendly ways.

Barnt Green to Bromsgrove Railway Line: Electrification

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce a decision on the proposed electrification of the Barnt Green to Bromsgrove line.

Philip Hammond: Electrification between Barnt Green and Bromsgrove was included in the overall programme of rail investment I confirmed in my statement to Parliament on 25 November 2010. The package of works will be complimented by a larger and better equipped replacement station for the growing number of passengers in the area.

Bombardier: Derby

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether he took into account the effects on Bombardier's future in Derby when deciding where to place the contract for trains;
	(2)  whether he took into account the effects on employees of Bombardier in Derby of his decision to place the contract for trains with Siemens; and whether he has made an estimate of the cost to the public purse of managing these effects.

Theresa Villiers: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr Denham) today (UIN 63731).

Bus Services

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of changes in the level of bus services funded by his Department in (a) England and (b) Northamptonshire in the latest period for which figures are available.

Norman Baker: The latest information on bus statistics in Great Britain can be found on the Department’s website at the following address:
	http://www2.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/public/bus/index.html
	The charts found at the following addresses may be of particular interest:
	http://assets.dft.gov.uk/statistics/worksheets/bus0103.xls
	http://assets.dft.gov.uk/statistics/worksheets/bus0109.xls

Bus Services: Concessions

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that bus passes issued to senior citizens in (a) England are valid for travel in Wales and (b) Wales are valid for travel in England.

Norman Baker: There are no immediate plans to introduce mutual recognition of concessionary bus passes across the UK. Concessionary travel is a devolved policy area so the arrangements differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 contains a power to allow, through future regulations, for mutual recognition of bus passes across the UK. Regular discussions have taken place at official level with the devolved Administrations. However, various technical and resource issues would need to be resolved before mutual recognition could be pursued. Individual local authorities on the England-Wales border are free to introduce arrangements between them to enable concessionary travel across the border, and some indeed have.

Bus Services: Concessions

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pensioners in (a) York Central constituency, (b) the city of York, (c) north Yorkshire and (d) England (i) held a concessionary bus pass and (ii) were eligible for concessionary bus travel (A) in May 2010 and (B) at the latest date for which figures are available.

Norman Baker: The Department is not responsible for issuing bus passes and so does not maintain records of how many passes are held by concessionaires in individual local authority areas. As bus passes are issued by local authorities, the Department has no information regarding bus passes held in parliamentary constituencies.
	Population estimates from the Office for National Statistics show that in mid-2010, the latest period for which figures are available, there were 44,900 older people resident in the city of York, 166,700 in north Yorkshire and 11,746,500 resident in England who were of the eligible age for a bus pass. The Department does not hold information as to whether all those eligible people have taken up their entitlement to the bus travel concession. However, the national travel survey 2009 estimated that 76% of eligible older people took up their entitlement to bus passes.

Capita

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts his Department has awarded to Capita since May 2010; and what the (a) monetary value and (b) net worth was of each contract.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport and its agencies has awarded two contracts to Capita since May 2010. In addition, we have awarded a further two framework contracts which have a nil commitment value on expenditure. We have awarded 11 purchase orders from these and other pre-existing framework contracts. The individual monetary values of these contracts and purchase orders are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Contract/type/purchase order Individual monetary value (£) 
			 Contract 175,000 
			 Contract 59,769 
			 Framework Contract 0 
			 Framework Contract 0 
			 Purchase Order 150,000 
			 Purchase Order 104,702 
			 Purchase Order 19,080 
			 Purchase Order 18,736 
			 Purchase Order 32,244 
			 Purchase Order 722,555 
			 Purchase Order 97,543 
			 Purchase Order 109,906 
			 Purchase Order 240,917 
			 Purchase Order 284,758 
			 Purchase Order 18,021

Channel Tunnel Railway Line

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which companies have been contracted to construct rolling stock operating on the High Speed 1 rail link.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 27 June 2011
	There are currently two operators using High Speed 1.
	Eurostar International, a stand alone business, currently operates 28 trainsets first introduced in 1994 and built by GEC-Alstom. Eurostar announced in October 2010 that it would be additionally purchasing 10 new trainsets from Siemens.
	London and South Eastern Railway Company operates 29 x 6 car units, manufactured by Hitachi, on the HS1 domestic route, which were introduced in June 2009. In addition, Deutsche Bahn is looking at the commercial proposition to operate services on HS1 using Siemens manufactured trainsets.

Compensation

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 29 March 2011, Official Report, column 257W, on compensation, what steps he is taking to reduce the need for his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies to compensate the public for errors for which they were responsible.

Norman Baker: A number of approaches are being employed to reduce the incidence of official errors within the Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies. Preventative measures, reviews and lessons learned differ across the Department, depending on the type of business transacted. They include the following measures:
	Prevention
	Customers are encouraged to obtain services online, reducing the risk that they do not receive the service they require.
	Services are designed so as to minimise the scope for errors, by building transparency into the process.
	Established quality management systems principles are used.
	A risk-based approach to prevention is employed, appropriate to the level of errors compared with turnover.
	Review and lessons learned
	Complaints handling functions are being centralised in order to increase understanding of customer complaints and compensation requests, in order to identify areas that require process improvements.
	Reviews are undertaken to ensure that lessons are learned and, where necessary, amended processes are communicated and shared to avoid a recurrence and the likelihood of compensation claims.
	Best practice and lessons learned are widely disseminated, both locally and also between the agencies.
	For unusual cases, legal or other advice is sought as appropriate.

Concessions: Pensioners

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) pensioners and (b) disabled people in (i) York, (ii) Yorkshire and the Humber and (iii) England received free bus travel and concessions in each year since 2008; and what plans he has for the future of free bus travel in England for older and disabled people.

Norman Baker: The Department does not maintain records of how many people received the free bus travel concession in individual local authority areas or the breakdown by older people and disabled people. A survey is in progress to collect information at local authority level.
	Population estimates from the Office for National Statistics show the numbers of people of eligible age for a bus pass, from mid-year 2008 to mid-year 2010
	
		
			 Thousand 
			  2008 2009 2010 
			 City of York 43.4 44.1 44.9 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,149.4 1,169.8 1,189.0 
			 England 11,324.2 11,541.1 11,746.5 
		
	
	The Department does not hold information on whether all those eligible people have taken up their entitlement to the bus travel concession. However, the national travel survey 2009 estimates that, nationally, 76% of eligible older people took up their entitlement to bus passes.
	The right to free bus travel for both older and disabled people is enshrined in primary legislation and, in last year's spending review, the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed the Government's commitment to protect the free bus travel concession.

Congestion Review: Consultants

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether his Department engaged external consultants as part of the review into measures to reduce the congestion caused by incidents; and what each such consultant was paid;
	(2)  what the cost was of the review into measures to reduce the congestion caused by incidents.

Michael Penning: The review into congestion caused by motorway incidents was produced in-house by the Department with support from Highways Agency colleagues, and the published report was produced using the Department's in-house reprographics unit. Consequently, no consultancy or external publication expenditure was incurred.

Congestion Review: Consultants

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was of the development of the new strategic framework for road safety; whether any external consultants were used as part of this review; and how much was paid to each such consultant.

Michael Penning: The Department did not use any consultants in the development of the new strategic framework for road safety. The Transport Research Laboratory provided updated forecasts and analysis at a cost of £14,091.52. There was a consultation exercise with stakeholders in the form of a series of workshops that were hosted and run, on behalf of the Department, by the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Transport Safety. The total cost of these was £6,360.32, which included the production of several think pieces and summaries following the events. 100 hard copies of the document were printed in-house. Due to the nature of the contract it is not possible to quantify the cost of an individual print job, but this was the least cost approach. The rest of the development work was undertaken by permanent members of staff as part of their general road safety work. It is not possible to quantify this cost, but as an illustration there was approximately one full- time member of staff developing the document for nine months, with input from many others throughout the process.

Cycling

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to promote cycling to work; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The Department has traditionally promoted both the Cycle to Work Scheme and the Cycle to Work Guarantee to employers, employees and other Government Departments through a number of department-led promotions and projects. The Department also funds the national business travel network (NBTN). NBTN launched a DfT part-funded ‘ways2work’ tool kit in November 2010 to help people and businesses work more efficiently. The tool kit includes a section on encouraging cycling to work.
	Most recently the Cycle to Work Scheme has been promoted through guidance to the members of the physical activity network, which is part of the Department for Health-led public health responsibility deal. I have also provided a foreword in support of the Cycle to Work Alliance's behavioural impact analysis.
	Finally, the results of bids for tranche 1 of the local sustainable transport fund were released on 5 July 2011, many of which included elements relating to cycling to work.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Tolls

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the number plate recognition system proposed for the Dartford river crossing is the same as the system used for the London congestion charge; and whether the system will be able to identify vehicles with non-UK number plates.

Michael Penning: The proposals for an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system are currently being considered as part of the preliminary design stage for a free-flow charging scheme at Dartford Crossing. It is expected that such a system will be similar to that used for the London congestion charging scheme, and should be capable of capturing the vehicle registration mark of most foreign vehicles.

Departmental Billing

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many invoices received by his Department have been paid (a) on time and (b) late in each month since May 2010; and what the monetary value is of the invoices paid late.

Norman Baker: The majority of the contractual obligations negotiated with suppliers within DFT is to pay valid invoices received from suppliers within 30 days of receipt.
	The following table reflects the invoices received that were paid on time (within 30 days) and those that were paid late in each month since May 2010 for the DFT family (composed of the central Department and its seven executive agencies). The table includes the monetary value of invoices paid on time and paid late (over 30 days) for the same period.
	
		
			 DFT family 
			  Number of invoices Monetary value (£) 
			  Paid in month Paid on time Not paid on time Paid on time Paid late 
			 2010      
			 May 18,294 18,198 96 335,590,702 4,808,015 
			 June 19,517 19,417 100 387,768,206 9,923,662 
			 July 18,989 18,891 97 327,029,601 9,402,201 
			 August 15,693 15,617 78 345,047,722 3,810,952 
			 September 17,075 17,000 72 305,054,805 9,855,466 
			 October 17,022 16,926 98 359,648,551 4,302,872 
			 November 16,703 16,660 43 314,083,194 373,153 
			 December 15,280 15,249 31 324,952,106 12,021,550 
			       
			 2011      
			 January 15,116 15,071 45 264,949,743 2,109,590 
			 February 15,669 15,631 38 264,464,874 1,886,523 
			 March 19,540 19,496 44 425,397,695 3,423,825 
			 April 15,092 15,059 33 359,988,396 1,551,364 
			 May 14,678 14,606 . 72 293,318,140 4,426,167 
			 Total 218,668 217,821 847 4,307,293,735 67,895,340 
		
	
	As the majority of contractual obligations are to pay within 30 days, payments not made in five days are not late payments. The Department is committed to paying within five days where appropriate.
	The following table reflects the invoices received that were paid within five days and those that were not paid within five days for the DFT family. It also includes the monetary value of invoices paid within five days and those paid outside of five days.
	
		
			 DFT family 
			  Number of invoices Monetary value (£) 
			  Paid in month Paid in five days Not paid in five days Paid  in five days Not p aid  in five days 
			 2010      
			 May 18,294 14,284 4,010 241,643,071 99,175,486 
			 June 19,517 15,140 4,329 233,148,106 164,903,807 
			 July 18,989 15,957 3,050 248,809,491 86,996,013 
			 August 15,693 14,209 1,518 298,361,910 52,091,691 
			 September 17,075 15,825 1,250 281,772,641 32,280,964 
			 October 17,022 15,863 1,176 337,152,736 26,798,687 
			 November 16,703 15,748 955 282,743,742 31,712,605 
			 December 15,280 14,064 1,216 295,036,104 41,937,552 
			       
			 2011      
			 January 15,116 14,039 1,077 209,461,018 57,598,315 
			 February 15,669 14,860 809 209,586,170 56,765,227 
			 March 19,540 18,223 1,317 303,500,730 125,320,790 
			 April 15,092 13,968 1,124 303,941,253 57,598,507 
			 May 14,678 13,757 921 281,314,359 16,429,948 
			 Total 218,668 195,937 22,752 3,526,471,331 849,609,592

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has any plans to generate low-carbon energy from its estate.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport is committed to reducing the carbon emissions from its estate and low-carbon technologies will form part of our overall sustainability strategy.
	The Department already has four Vehicle Operator and Services Agency Test Station sites that utilise either Wind Turbine or Solar Photovoltaic technologies.
	While these technologies are not practical for some parts of our estate, we have a number of feasibility studies ongoing at present. These include:
	Biomass boiler, photovoltaic and solar thermal arrays at the Driving Standards Agency training and development centre in Bedford. The target for installation to start is 2012;
	Installation of low-carbon technologies in at least one of the Highways Agency main offices with a target for installation to be take place by March 2012;
	Ground and air source heat pumps and photovoltaic technologies at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency headquarters in Swansea. The aim is for these to be progressed over the next two years, subject to feasibility; and
	The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is in the infancy of exploring the potential for generating low-carbon energy from its estate but does not yet have any definitive time scales in place.
	These are the current areas under consideration, but this scope is likely to grow as the technologies mature and our estate rationalisation programme completes.

Departmental Charitable Donations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage charitable giving by Ministers in his Department.

Norman Baker: Government Ministers have pledged to undertake a ‘one-day challenge’ with a charity or community group of their choice. This is a clear and public commitment by Ministers to give their time to help others. The pledge aims to inspire others to consider how they might be able to support their communities to benefit themselves, as well as their chosen organisations.

Business Regulation

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department (a) introduced and (b) removed in the six months prior to 1 September 2010; and what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was.

Michael Penning: Twelve statutory instruments that impose costs on businesses, charities or the voluntary or public sectors were made by the Department for Transport in the six months prior to 1 September 2010. Eleven were made by the Department under the last Administration. Of the 12, six imposed an overall net cost. The other six were either neutral in terms of the overall costs imposed or had an overall net benefit.
	Although it is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, to break down the costs as between business, charities and the voluntary or public sectors for each of the instruments, I set out as follows a table of the 12 instruments giving general comments on whom, on the basis of the impact assessments prepared for the instruments, the costs were expected to fall.
	The Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010 are not yet in force and the underlying policy is subject to review. Consequently, the costs in the table may not become a reality.
	
		
			 Title Number Net cost (£ million) Net benefit (£ million) Origin (wholly or mainly) Comment 
			 Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 2010 No. 629 0 0 Domestic — 
			 Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations 2010 2010 No. 724 17.1 — EU Costs will mainly fall on the train operating companies 
			 Merchant Shipping(Maritime Labour Convention) (Medical Certification) Regulations 2010 2010 No. 737 0.148 — International Costs to seafarers 
			 Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2010 2010 No. 770 — 5.848 Domestic Costs to licensed aerodromes and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Benefits to training organisations and CAA 
			 M20 Motorway (Junctions 4 to 7) (Variable Speed Limits) Regulations 2010 2010 No. 775 — 7.3 Domestic Costs mainly to government, benefit to motorists 
			 Vehicle Drivers (Certificates of Professional Competence) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 2010 No. 865 0.121 — Domestic Costs to drivers 
			 Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 2010 No. 895 23 — EU Most costs fall on passenger ship operators but some to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency 
			 Motor Vehicles (Off Road Events) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2010 2010 No. 1003 0 0 Domestic — 
			 Motor Vehicle(Competitions and Trials) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2010 2010 No. 1005 0 0 Domestic — 
			 Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 2010 No. 1203 0.009 — Domestic Cost to driver trainers 
			 Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010 2010 No. 1228 83.3 — Domestic Costs to ports, harbours and shipping operators. 
			 Tonnage Tax (Training Requirement) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 2010 No. 2158 0 0 Domestic — 
		
	
	In total, the 12 instruments have a net cost of £123.678 million and a net benefit of £13.148 million, giving an overall net cost of £110.15 million.
	No statutory instruments which imposed a cost on business were revoked by an instrument made in the six months prior to 1 September 2010.
	Local and temporary instruments have not been considered for the purposes of answering this question as to do so would incur disproportionate costs.

Driving Offences

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of road rage there have been in each of the last three years; and what steps he is taking to prevent these incidents.

Michael Penning: The term ‘road rage’ is used to cover a wide range of aggressive behaviour when one road user assaults another or threatens another due to their behaviour on the road. Unless a serious incident takes place the police do not become involved, and therefore no record of the number of incidents exists.
	Contributions towards ‘road rage’ incidents include motoring offences for which the road user may be prosecuted under road traffic offences. The Government’s strategic framework for road safety includes a proposal to introduce a fixed penalty notice for careless driving, expected to start in 2012. This would allow more people to be offered rehabilitative education to combat behaviour such as ‘tail-gating’, which itself is at times unofficially described as ‘road rage’.

East Coast Railway Line: Finance

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with (a) officials from Directly Operated Railways Ltd and (b) ministerial colleagues and officials from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the award of the east coast main line customer contact centre contract to Intelenet and Atos Origin.

Norman Baker: holding answer 10 June 2011
	Ministers from the Department for Transport have met with (a) representatives of Directly Operated Railways Ltd and (b) ministerial colleagues and officials from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, but not specifically to discuss this matter.
	Officials from the Department meet regularly with train operating companies and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to discuss a wide range of issues.

First TransPennine Express: Contracts

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which companies have been shortlisted to provide additional rolling stock for the TransPennine Express passenger rail franchise; and when he expects to announce the award of the contract.

Theresa Villiers: The Department is not procuring these trains and therefore is unable to disclose this information. The train operator is leading on this procurement.
	The Department is in negotiation with TransPennine Express regarding the commercial terms for operating such trains. Should commercial agreement be reached between the parties, an announcement will be made in due course.

G4S

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts his Department holds with G4S; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport and its agencies holds 10 contracts with G4S. The purpose and monetary value for each contract are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Agency name Purpose Value (£ per annum) 
			 Driving Standards Agency Collection of cheques and postal orders (Newcastle office) 2,000 
			 Driving Standards Agency Collection of cash (Nottingham office) 200 
			 Driving Standards Agency Security at Driving Standards Agency properties 22,500 
			 Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency Customer Service Accreditation 6,300 
			 Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency Security Carrier Service 250,000 
			 Highways Agency Recruitment framework for temporary RCC (Regional Control Centres) Operators 2009 200,000 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency Provision of car barrier and swipe card system 6,515 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency Provision of CCTV cameras and swipe card system 3,446 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency Provision of CCTV cameras and swipe card system 3,597 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency Provision of swipe card system 626

High Speed 2

Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has commissioned on connections between the principal High Speed 2 stations and outlying areas.

Philip Hammond: Although no specific research into connections between High Speed 2 (HS2) stations and outlying areas has been commissioned, a key factor in identifying station locations for HS2 has been the availability of local and regional transport links. HS2 Ltd's modelling takes account of the impact of the accessibility of new stations on the proposed HS2 line, as well as the impact of passengers on the classic network. Details of the modelling and impacts on the wider transport network are available in the Economic Case for HS2:
	http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/library/documents
	Subject to the outcome of the public consultation, the Department would work with local partners to ensure HS2 is effectively connected into local transport services.

High Speed 2

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential effects of High Speed 2 on (a) the number of engineering jobs in the north-west during the construction of the line and (b) the economy of the north-west (i) during and (ii) after construction.

Philip Hammond: HS2 Ltd estimates that around 9,000 jobs would be created to construct the new London-west midlands route, with a further 1,500 permanent jobs created in operations and maintenance. These figures would significantly rise under the Government's proposed ‘Y’ shaped high-speed rail network, which includes links to the north-east and north-west, and has the potential to generate benefits worth £44 billion over the appraisal period.
	Although construction phase benefits have not been broken down to a regional level, new high-speed rail lines could provide business opportunities for firms throughout the UK's rail industry supply chain, including engineering firms. Once the London-west-midlands line is operational, HS2 Ltd forecast that based, on journeys starting in the north-west region, the north-west could experience 23% of the £22 billion-worth of potential benefits from the first phase of a new high-speed line.

High Speed 2: Fares

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with railway operators on his proposed fare structure for High Speed 2.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 11 July 2011
	I have had no discussions with railway operators about any proposed fare structure for HS2.
	The exact level and structure of fares on HS2 (London to west-midlands) would be determined closer to the time of opening of the scheme and would depend on a wide range of factors. The structure of regulation in the rail industry, the structure of franchises and the impact of competition from other rail operators (and indeed from air operators) could all affect the fares structures that might eventually be put in place on high-speed trains. For the purposes of the economic case, we have assumed that the level of fares on HS2 would be broadly similar to that currently in place on the west coast main line.

High Speed 2: Freight

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the provision of a dedicated freight railway line for the routes to be served by High Speed 2.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 5 July 2011
	None. While HS2 would be capable of carrying freight, it is not planned to be used in this way. However, by releasing capacity on existing lines, HS2 would enable additional freight services on these lines.

High Speed 2: Income

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the potential revenue to be generated from leasing High Speed 2 to private companies.

Philip Hammond: No such estimate has been made at this stage.
	Subject to the outcome of the current consultation, as part of their further development of their high-speed rail strategy, the Government would consider the appropriate long-term ownership and operating model for High Speed 2. This would be expected to include an assessment of the potential for generating revenue through granting a concession of the High Speed 2 line to a private sector concessionaire.
	A 30-year operating concession for the HS1 line was let earlier this year for £2.1 billion—more than a third of the total construction cost of the project.

High Speed 1

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the net financial value to the Exchequer has been of (a) the let of a concession to manage the High Speed 1 infrastructure and (b) franchise payments for High Speed 1 since 2009.

Theresa Villiers: A 30-year concession for HS1 was sold in 2010 for £2.1 billion to High Speed 1 Limited. There are no franchise payments associated with the HS1 concession.
	High Speed 1 Limited's income comes from the track and station access payments it receives from Southeastern and Eurostar International Limited for using the railway, together with car parking, retail and advertising income at stations.

IBM

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts his Department holds with IBM; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is.

Norman Baker: Out of the Department for Transport and its seven executive agencies, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) holds one contract with IBM. The core purpose of this contract is to run and maintain the DVLA information technology infrastructure. The contract also includes the design, development and support of new and enhanced systems and services to DVLA specification. The monetary value of the contract is £150 million per annum and the contract runs until September 2015.

Liverpool Cruise Terminal

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with (a) representatives of Peel Holdings and (b) Associated British Ports on the future operational role of the Liverpool cruise terminal; on what date such meetings took place; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Department has held no meetings with Peel Holdings or Associated British Ports specifically on this subject, although the matter has been mentioned in the course of other business with each of them at various times. The Department's consultation, on the proposal to remove its objection to use of the terminal for turnaround operations, closes on 15 September, and we shall welcome responses from both companies.

Motorcycles

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to encourage the development and use of electrically-powered motorcycles.

Norman Baker: Passenger cars are by some distance the biggest source of emissions from road transport, accounting for almost 60% of total UK domestic CO2 transport emissions, compared to less than 1% accounted for by motorcycles. As such, the focus of Government support is on cars as that will have the biggest impact on greenhouse gas emissions from road transport. We recognise that electric motorcycles offer environmental benefits compared to conventional motorcycles, and they are already zero rated for VED purposes and exempt from fuel duty. Electric motorbikes are able to access the re-charging infrastructure installed as part of the plugged-in places programme.

Motorcycles: Driving Tests

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorcycle driving tests in each engine class were taken (a) between April 2008 and March 2009 and (b) between April 2009 and March 2010; and how many test sites were in operation in each period.

Michael Penning: The number of motorcycle driving tests in each engine class taken between (a) April 2008 and March 2009 and (b) April 2009 and March 2010; and the number of test sites in operation in each period are shown as follows:
	
		
			  Single Event Test Module 1 Module 2 
			  Tests taken Number of sites (1) Tests taken Number of sites Tests taken Number of sites 
			 April 2008 to March 2009 A1—442 (2)225 — — — — 
			  A2—28,153 (2)— — — — — 
			  A—78,562 (2)— — — — — 
			        
			 April 2009 to 26 April 2009 A1—47 (3)173 — — — — 
			  A2—2,353 (3)— — — — — 
			  A—6,144 (3)— — — — — 
			        
			 27 April 2009 to March 2010(4) — — A1—380 (5)68 A1—125 (6)114 
			  — — A2—2,541 (5)— A2—8,760 (6)— 
			  — — A—37,903 (5)— A—29,032 (6)— 
			 (1 )Modular testing was introduced on 27 April 2009. (4) Number of sites from which tests have been delivered over the period specified.

National Security Council

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings he has had with the National Security Adviser since the creation of the National Security Council.

Philip Hammond: I attend the National Security Council when the discussions include transport security matters and the National Security Adviser is present at such meetings. I have not held any separate meetings with the National Security Adviser.

Network Rail

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work his Department has undertaken with Network Rail on improving rail asset information.

Theresa Villiers: Network Rail has an obligation in its network licence to maintain appropriate, accurate and readily accessible information about its railway assets, including their condition, capability and capacity. The network licence is enforced by the Office of Rail Regulation in accordance with its economic enforcement policy, which states that it will concentrate on serious or systemic issues.

Network Rail

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on measures to notify (a) the Office of Rail Regulation and (b) Parliament of compromise agreements paid by Network Rail out of the public purse.

Theresa Villiers: Network Rail is a private sector company which, in line with other employers, is subject to relevant employment legislation and directives. Questions on the details of its employment practices are for the company to answer.

North East Interim Regional Transport Board

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the status is of the North East Interim Regional Transport Board; and what the composition is of that board.

Norman Baker: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my answer of 15 June 2011, Official Report, column 835W, to his earlier question on this matter, and have nothing further to add.

Office of Rail Regulation

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Office of Rail Regulation on (a) a review of rail industry change and the consultation process and (b) amendments to contracts and the Network Code;
	(2)  what consideration his Department and the Office of Rail Regulation have given to issuing a statement on (a) partnership working between train operating companies and Network Rail and (b) treatment of resulting costs and benefits;
	(3)  what work his Department has done on the proposals of the final independent report of the rail value for money study for devolved route infrastructure management by Network Rail infrastructure managers;
	(4)  what work his Department has undertaken on the proposals in the final independent report of the rail value for money study for the vertical integration of train operations and infrastructure management in the (a) Sussex, (b) Kent, (c) South Eastern, (d) Wales and (e) Western regions; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  whether his Department has carried out (a) a cost-benefit analysis and (b) any other work on the proposal of the final independent report of the rail value for money study to allow independent ownership of at least one route infrastructure management by 2014-15;
	(6)  what work his Department has carried out with Network Rail on the proposals to create a northern operating route out of the London North Western and London North Eastern routes contained in the final independent report of the rail value for money study;
	(7)  whether his Department plans to undertake an assessment of the implications for rail safety of the proposals for Network Rail to devolve safety functions to route infrastructure managers in the final independent report of the rail value for money study;
	(8)  what his policy is on the future of the network grant;
	(9)  whether he plans to undertake an assessment of the effect on competition between train-operating companies of proposals for 30-year vertically integrated train operations and infrastructure management franchises.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport has received Sir Roy McNulty's final report on the value for money of the railway. The Department will be working closely with the Office of Rail Regulation and the rail industry over the next few months to analyse Sir Roy's recommendations and to develop proposals for the reform of the industry. The Government plan to publish our proposals for the future of the rail industry before the end of the year.

Pedestrian Crossings: Carnforth

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had discussions with Lancashire county council on placing a pedestrian crossing on Market street in Carnforth.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has had no discussions with Lancashire county council regarding this pedestrian crossing. The provision of pedestrian crossings is a local matter for the relevant local highway authority.

Rail Value for Money Review

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent in each cost category in providing the independent report of the rail value for money study. [R]

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 13 June 2011
	The total forecast cost of the report to 27 May 2011 was £3,240,832. The breakdown of costs is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 Administrative costs 123,875 
			 Consultancy costs(1) 2,063,094.30 
			 Programme and Project Management(2) 1,053,862.40 
			 (1) Including both transport and management consultancy. (2) Including staff costs.

Rail Value for Money Review

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost to the public purse was of the final independent report of the rail value for money study; how much was spent on (a) staffing costs and (b) consultant costs; and how much each consultant was paid.

Theresa Villiers: I refer the hon. Lady to my answer given today to the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) (UIN 58590), which sets out the total forecast cost of the rail value for money study.
	The forecast staff costs include seven core staff paid for by the Department (at a total cost of £968,638) and two further personnel remunerated by the Office of Rail Regulation (at a total cost of £85,224), a total of £1,053,862. In addition, staff were seconded from the Department and the ORR on an ad hoc basis to provide support to the study.
	The total forecast consultancy expenditure is £2,063,094. Consultancy expenditure is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
			 Adventis 35,212 
			 Aecom Ltd 111,085 
			 Amtec Consulting 98,050 
			 Atkins Ltd 440,363 
		
	
	
		
			 Atos Origin 21,500 
			 Booz and Co Ltd 61,244 
			 Civity 168,400 
			 Colin Buchanan 44,500 
			 Detica 85,428 
			 DTZ Debenham TIE 45,195 
			 Ernst and Young 21,475 
			 First Class Partnership Ltd 5,000 
			 First Economics 21,700 
			 Grant Thornton 35,805 
			 Imperial College London 18,000 
			 Investors in Excellence 26,955 
			 Jacobs Consultancy 37,208 
			 LEK Consulting 273,290 
			 Ove Arup and Partners 72,644 
			 Oxera Consulting Ltd 115,072 
			 Peter Thompson 24,000 
			 Steer Davis Gleave 300,968

Railways

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the involvement of train operating companies in the High Level Output Specification process.

Theresa Villiers: Our policy is one of active involvement. Train operating companies are working with Network Rail to develop an initial industry plan, expected to be published in September 2011, which will inform the Government of the areas the industry seeks the High Level Output Specification (HLOS) to cover. The companies participate in the Government's cross-industry joint planning group, which has been providing guidance on the format the output might take since 2009.

Railways: Contracts

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with which train suppliers and for how many vehicles his Department has (a) reached contract signature and (b) announced preferred bidder status since 2004.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 11 July 2011
	The Department has reached preferred bidder status with Agility trains for around 600 IEP vehicles and with a consortium of Siemens plc and Cross London Trains (XLT) for around 1,200 Thameslink vehicles. Neither of these have reached contract signature yet.
	The Department facilitated Virgin Rail Projects Ltd and Angel Trains Ltd entering into a contract with Alstom for 106 additional Pendolino carriages in 2008.

Railways: Electrification

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of (a) extending his plans for electrification of the rail network and ordering more full electric trains and (b) retaining his existing rail electrification proposals operated by hybrid trains over the next 10 years.

Theresa Villiers: The Government have committed to delivering an investment of over £5.5 billion in the electrification of the network and to a new fleet of intercity express trains and made the estimate over a 30-year period.
	The operation of bi-mode trains is cheaper for those less busy sections of the network where electrification cannot be justified and allows through long distance service to London to continue.

Railways: Fares

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2011, Official Report, column 1062W, on railways: finance, what progress his Department has made in its engagement with the rail industry on an agreement on the effects on levels of Government (a) subsidy to and (b) premia received from train operating companies of the increase in rail fares by retail prices index plus three per cent. for three years from January 2012.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 5 July 2011
	Progress is being made on refining the contractual changes to subsidy and premia that the Department expects to recover from train operating companies for this change in fares regulation.

Railways: Fares

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there will be a public consultation on the findings of the review of rail fares policy announced in the McNulty review; what stage that review has reached; and when he last met representatives of the Association of Train Operating Companies to discuss the fares review.

Theresa Villiers: Ministers regularly discuss a range of issues with ATOC. The most recent meeting specifically to discuss fares reform was on 21 June 2011. We are still considering the scope of the review, including the timetable and process for engagement.

Railways: Fees and Charges

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider the merits of amending the penalty fares policy and rules to allow passengers travelling with an advance ticket and travelling on a service other than that specified on that ticket to pay the difference between what they have paid for that ticket and the fare appropriate to the service on which they are travelling.

Theresa Villiers: The scope of the forthcoming fares review is under consideration.

Railways: Finance

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much his Department paid Steer Davies Gleave for the work carried out as part of the final independent report of the rail value for money study;
	(2)  how much his Department paid (a) Oxera, (b) Arup and (c) Frontier Economics for work commissioned by the final independent report of the rail value for money study.

Theresa Villiers: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I have given her today (UIN 61233), which sets out the direct payments to third parties engaged in producing work for the independent report of the rail value for money study.

Railways: Franchises

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on requiring franchise bidders to guarantee a minimum number of trains to stop at each station in a franchise area.

Theresa Villiers: The policy for each franchise will be considered during the re-letting process, in light of public consultation. The Department is currently consulting on the total quantum of stops outlined in the trains service requirement of the draft invitation to tender (ITT) for the Intercity West Coast franchise. This draft ITT sets out the proposals for that franchise and the consultation can be found at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/rail-passenger-franchise-intercity-west-coast/
	The consultation closes on 17 August 2011.

Railways: Lee Valley

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to make an announcement on expenditure on the Lee Valley main line between Coppermill Junction and Broxbourne Junction.

Theresa Villiers: The rail industry is currently preparing its recommended priorities for the next railway control period (Control Period 5 from 2014-15 to 2018-19). The next high-level output specification, setting out the railway outputs required by the Secretary of State for Transport in Control Period 5 will be published in July 2012. It will then be for the rail industry to determine how the outputs are delivered, subject to oversight by the Office of Rail Regulation.

Railways: Lee Valley

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to install new segregated train tracks from Brimsdown, north of Tottenham Hale station, to south of Coppermill Junction; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: Network Rail is considering options for new tracks in the Brimsdown and Coppermill Junction areas in its development of the London and south-east route utilisation strategy. The final version of the strategy is expected to be published shortly and will inform the Government's next high-level output specification covering rail investment from 2014.

Railways: Midlands

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which companies have been shortlisted to provide additional rolling stock for the London Midland passenger rail franchise; and when he expects to announce the award of the contract.

Theresa Villiers: The procurement of additional rolling stock for the London Midland passenger rail franchise is combined with a procurement of similar trains by the TransPennine Express franchise. The Department is not procuring these trains and therefore is unable to disclose this information.
	The Department is in negotiation with both train operating companies regarding the commercial terms for operating such trains. Should commercial agreement be reached between the parties, an announcement will be made later this year.

Railways: North-west

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from businesses in the north-west on high-speed rail.

Philip Hammond: Overall, the business community in the north-west has demonstrated significant support for the Government's proposals on high-speed rail, including in representations to the Department.

Railways: Passengers

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Network Rail's northern route utilisation Strategy, what plans his Department has to make provision for projected increases in passenger numbers to Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Newcastle up to 2024.

Theresa Villiers: We announced on 13 April the provision of an extra 2,000 seats for West Yorkshire commuters as part of the 650 extra carriages we have committed to introduce across the network by 2014. Our plans beyond 2014 will be set out in 2012 and will take account of the initial industry plan the rail industry intends to publish later this year.

Railways: Public Finance

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much public funding was provided for (a) rail transport, (b) roads, (c) shipping and ports and (d) airports in the latest period for which figures are available.

Norman Baker: The Department's Supply Estimates give details of the amount of public funding made available for 2011-12 and can be found at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/dft_main_supply_ estimates_april11.pdf
	The Estimate shows the full funding provided for rail transport at Estimate Lines D, E and F. Roads are at Lines A and C; in addition, £806 million of the amount shown for local authorities in Line B is for capital road maintenance.
	Line L shows funding for aviation, maritime, security and safety. Within this, the public funding for shipping and ports is £20.2 million, but there is no public funding specifically for airports.

Railways: Safety

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to investigate the circumstances in which two trains came close to collision near Burnham on 4 June 2011.

Theresa Villiers: The role of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) is to conduct investigations into the types of accident or incident that the industry is obliged to notify us about, which are defined in the Schedules to the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) Regulations 2005.
	The event on 4 June 2011 at Burnham occurred after the signaller at Slough had authorised a train to pass signal DM20 at danger. During the previous day, there had been signal failures caused by vandalism between Taplow and Burnham and work continued during the morning of the 4th to repair the problems which had led to some signals in the area being held at red.
	Operational procedures exist to cover such situations which may arise, for example because the signal itself is defective. When a signaller permits a driver to pass a signal at danger, the driver is instructed to proceed at caution and be prepared to stop short of any obstruction.
	On this occasion, the signaller incorrectly instructed the driver to pass the signal at danger. However, the driver correctly applied the rule book procedure and ensured that the train proceeded slowly and was able to stop well short of the train ahead, without the use of emergency braking. Consequently, while the trains where physically in relatively close proximity (circa 100 yards), they were not at risk of collision. Under these circumstances, the event was not notifiable to the RAIB according to the legislation.
	However, it had been identified by the RAIB duty co-ordinator, from the daily log provided by Network Rail, as an incident where further information should be obtained. As a result, the RAIB decided that it was appropriate to leave the investigation to the industry, which has a duty to investigate.

Railways: South-west

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to electrify the lines between (a) London Paddington and Penzance stations and (b) Bristol Temple Meads and Exeter St David's stations.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 5 July 2011
	The Government support a progressive electrification of the railway to support our carbon and cost-reduction goals, where the economic case is sound and as resources allow.
	As detailed in the Secretary of State for Transport's statement to the House on 1 March 2011, Official Report, column 185, we are committed to electrifying the Great Western main line from London Paddington to Didcot, Newbury, Bristol and Cardiff. We have no current plans to electrify the lines beyond to Penzance and Exeter St David stations.

Railways: Theft

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to prevent rail cable theft in Wales;
	(2)  how many rail cable thefts there were in Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the costs of (a) replacing cables and (b) disruption to services following cable theft in the latest period for which figures are available.

Norman Baker: Prevention of rail crimes is a matter for the British Transport police (BTP). Cable theft is a crime which hits the railway particularly hard and causes levels of disruption out of all proportion to the value of the material stolen. That is why the BTP is in the forefront of efforts to tackle the problem, working with Network Rail, the train operators, other police forces, the scrap metal industry and others with an interest. In addition, I recently met with interested parties in the rail industry to discuss this problem.
	Methods used to deter and catch the thieves include: a dedicated BTP task force with increased patrols, intelligence-led policing and additional dedicated officers; the use of the Network Rail helicopter, CCTV, forensic marking, trembler alarms and other devices to protect the cable; the introduction of new type of cable that is easier to identify and harder to steal; and fast response teams to get trains on the move as quickly as possible following an incident.
	Information relating to the cost of replacement cables and disruption to services is not held by the Department for Transport but by Network Rail. It is not possible to provide the information by area but the national figures for cable theft (May 2011) are detailed as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Number of incidents (1) Delay minutes (2) Compensation cost (3)  (£) Total cost (4)  (£) 
			 2010-11 995 365,265 12,137,220 16,510,663 
			 2009-10 656 321,570 10,931,350 13,961,998 
			 2008-09 742 283,167 7,858,516 12,264,682 
			 Total 2,393 970,002 30, 927, 086 42,737,343 
			 (1) Number of incidents which caused delay to the operational network. It does not include thefts from depots, engineering sites or redundant cable. (2) Delay minutes show the inconvenience experienced by the passenger and vary with each incident. If the theft is on a busy mainline then they rack up much quicker than on quieter suburban lines. Delay per incident is decreasing as Network Rail teams become more efficient at locating and fixing the problem. (3) Compensation costs (known as schedule 8 costs) are paid to train and freight operators for the disruption caused by the delay. This is a substantial part of the cost to the industry of cable theft but does not include the cost of staff time to repair and replace the cable, replacement cable itself and the cost of mitigation measures such as security patrols and investment in new technology. The amount of compensation paid depends on the type of services delayed. (4) Total cost comprises schedule 8 (compensation to train operators), as well as the average cost of replacement cable; average maintenance cost of attending to the fault and average opportunity cost of diverting this labour from elsewhere. This figure is only available as a national figure as it is an estimation based on averages. 
		
	
	
		
			  Hours delay 
			 2010-11 6,088 
			 2009-10 5,360 
			 2008-09 4,719

Railways: Tickets

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the recommendations of the final independent report of the rail value for money study, whether he plans to establish a pilot scheme in conjunction with a train operating company to trial smart card season tickets.

Theresa Villiers: There are currently four train operating companies (South West Trains, London Midland, East Midlands Trains and Southern) that have franchise commitments to implement ITSO smart ticketing schemes including the use of smart card season tickets.

Railways: Vandalism

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of vandalism of railway tracks in each (a) county and (b) region were reported in each of the last five years; what the average annual cost of repairing vandalism to the rail network has been in the last five years; and what initiatives are being pursued to prevent vandalism of the rail network.

Theresa Villiers: The information requested is not held by the Department for Transport, but by the British Transport Police and Network Rail, which hold the primary responsibility for combating vandalism on the national rail network.
	The hon. Gentleman may wish to direct his question to the British Transport Police and Network Rail at the following addresses for a response to his questions:
	British Transport Police
	25 Camden Road
	London
	NW1 9LN.
	E-mail: parliament@btp.pnn.police.uk
	David Higgins
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	Kings Place
	90 York Way
	London
	N1 9AG.

Road Signs and Markings

Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) visibility and (b) distance criteria are for the installation of solid double white lines on class (i) A, (ii) B and (iii) C roads in England.

Norman Baker: Visibility and distance criteria for solid double white lines are not regulated. The Traffic Signs Manual, chapter 5, section 5, available on the Department for Transport website at:
	http://www2.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tss/tsmanual/trafficsignsmanualchapter5.pdf
	gives advice on the appropriate procedure for determining whether they should be installed. The selection criteria are independent of road class.

ScotRail: Rolling Stock

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the delivery into service of the Class 380 electric multiple-unit trains and depot procured from Siemens for the Scotrail passenger rail franchise.

Theresa Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport, has made no assessment of the Class 380 electric multiple trains and depots procured for the Scotrail passenger franchise as this is a devolved matter for Transport Scotland.

Serco

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts his Department holds with Serco; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport and its agencies hold five contracts with Serco. The purpose and monetary value of each contract is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Agency name Purpose Monetary value, per annum (£) 
			 DVLA Occupational Health Service 420,000 
			 Highways Agency Electronic System for Delivery of Abnormal Loads (2012) (ESDAL system) 809,588 
			 Highways Agency Highways Agency Traffic Management System (HATMS) Software Maintenance 4,500,000 
			 Highways Agency Electronic Service Delivery of Abnormal Loads Phase 5 629,970 
			 Highways Agency Project Support Framework (Consultancy) 2010-14, Type A Suppliers 96,250 
		
	
	In addition, Serco is a prime subcontractor on another contract and is in joint venture arrangements with other suppliers on a further two. The purpose and monetary value for these contracts are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Agency name Supplier Purpose Value, per annum (£) 
			 Highways Agency Serco is the prime subcontractor for the Traffic Information Services (TIS) Ltd National Traffic Control Centre 16,000,000 
			 Highways Agency SERCO/Costain Joint Venture Major Projects Framework Contract 500,000,000 
			 Highways Agency SERCO/WSP Joint Venture HADECS (Highways Agency Digital Enforcement Camera System) Framework Contract 5,800,000

Shared Service Centre

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress his Department has made on divestment of its shared service centre; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport's board decided on 9 December 2010 that its preferred option for the shared service centre in Swansea was that it would be divested to a private sector provider. In taking this decision, the board has committed to buying shared services from the new owner for up to 10 years and plans to require the new owner to retain a significant presence in Swansea.
	The actual process of looking for a new provider began on 18 July with the issuance of a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). It is expected that the divestment process will be completed by May 2012.

Shipping: EU Action

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals his Department has made to the International Maritime Organisation in the course of the organisation's work on European standards on ship's navigation bridge visibility.

Michael Penning: Neither the UK on its own nor the European Union collectively has submitted formal proposals to the International Maritime Organization about European standards on navigation bridge visibility for ships.

Shipping: Emissions

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effects of lower sulphur emission levels in emission control areas on freight shipping.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport's Maritime and Coastguard Agency commissioned a report entitled ‘Impact Assessment for the revised Annex VI of MARPOL’, which was completed in 2009 and includes consideration of the costs for the shipping industry and other stakeholders of implementing the lower sulphur emission levels in emission control areas.

South West Trains: Rolling Stock

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which companies have been shortlisted to provide additional rolling stock for the South West Trains passenger rail franchise; and when he expects to announce the award of the contract.

Theresa Villiers: The Department is not procuring these trains and therefore is unable to disclose this information. The train operator is leading on this procurement.
	The Department is in negotiation with Stagecoach South West Trains regarding the commercial terms for operating such trains. Should commercial agreement be reached, an announcement will be made in due course.

Thameslink: Rolling Stock

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with their counterparts in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the decision to award the Thameslink contract to an overseas consortium.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 5 July 2011
	The requirements of EU law mean that Ministers are not permitted to discuss the details of individual bids for contracts before they are awarded. The invitation to tender produced in 2008 specified the evaluation criteria by which bids for the Thameslink contract would be judged. The Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills have subsequently discussed the award of the Thameslink contract and its implications and have jointly written to the Prime Minister outlining their proposals for the growth review to include consideration of the way EU procurement rules are applied in the UK, a proposal the Prime Minister has agreed to.

Thameslink: Rolling Stock

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date (a) officials in his Department were, (b) Ministers in his Department were and (c) he was informed of the outcome of the tender for the Thameslink rolling stock contract.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 11 July 2011
	DFT officials confirmed the result of the procurement evaluation on an anonymised basis and made a recommendation to a DFT board sub-committee meeting on 4 May 2011. The Secretary of State for Transport was asked to endorse this recommendation, with the bids still anonymised, on 12 May 2011. He was informed of the bidders’ identities later that same day after he had endorsed the recommendation.

Thameslink: Rolling Stock

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what submissions from members of the public he has received on the announcement of Siemens as the preferred bidder for the Thameslink contract.

Theresa Villiers: As of 11 July I had received 270 submissions from members of the public on the announcement of Siemens and Cross London Trains as the preferred bidder for the Thameslink contract.

Thameslink: Rolling Stock

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of the Thameslink contract to domestic economic output; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 13 July 2011
	The evaluation criteria set for the Thameslink procurement by the previous Government do not include an assessment of domestic economic output. Under European procurement rules, it is not permitted to specify the location of manufacturing facilities as a condition of contract awards. Siemens has indicated that this contract would generate up to 2,000 jobs in the UK.

Thameslink: Rolling Stock

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 June 2011, Official Report, columns 85-86WS, on Thameslink rolling stock, whether he took steps to establish the likely effect on domestic employment levels of the announcement of the preferred bidder; and whether such matters were taken into account during the tendering process.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 13 July 2011
	The criteria against which bids for the Thameslink rolling stock contract were judged were set by the previous Government and included an evaluation of affordability, value for money and deliverability. The likely effect on domestic employment levels was not one of the evaluation criteria specified in the invitation to tender.
	I understand that Bombardier is currently reviewing its UK operation. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, with support from the Department for Transport, has set up an economic response task force to help ensure that the rail industry supply chain in Derby and elsewhere exploits all opportunities in the UK and overseas.
	Siemens, the nominated preferred bidder for Thameslink, has stated that up to 2,000 new jobs will be created in the UK as a result of the contract, comprising train component manufacturing, construction of the depots and subsequent maintenance of the new fleet of trains.

Thameslink: Rolling Stock

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 June 2011, Official Report, columns 85-6WS, on Thameslink rolling stock, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the announcement of the preferred bidder for the Thameslink contract on east-midlands companies operating in the rail sector.

Theresa Villiers: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr Denham) today (UIN 63731).

Thameslink: Rolling Stock

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 June 2011, Official Report, columns 85-6WS, on Thameslink rolling stock, what consideration the Government gave to the findings of the 2009 report produced by URS Corporation Limited for Derby city council, the East Midlands Development Agency and Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce in assessing the bid from Bombardier for the Thameslink contract.

Theresa Villiers: The report to which the hon. Gentleman refers was not considered in the evaluation of the bids regarding the Thameslink rolling stock project since it was not relevant to the criteria set for the procurement by the previous Government.

Thameslink: Rolling Stock

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the potential effects of job losses arising from the appointment of Siemens as preferred bidder for the Thameslink rolling stock project.

Philip Hammond: I have regular discussions with my Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues.

Thameslink: Rolling Stock

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects on the economy of Derby and the surrounding area of the decision to award the Thameslink contract to an overseas consortium.

Theresa Villiers: The criteria against which bids for the Thameslink rolling stock contract were judged were set by the previous Government and included an evaluation of the affordability, value for money and deliverability.
	I understand that Bombardier is currently reviewing its UK operation. While this is of course primarily a commercial matter for Bombardier, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, with support from the Department for Transport, has set up an economic response task force to help ensure that the rail industry supply chain in Derby and elsewhere exploits all opportunities in the UK and overseas.
	Siemens, the nominated preferred bidder for Thameslink, has stated that up to 2,000 new jobs will be created in the UK as a result of the contract, comprising train component manufacturing, construction of the depots and subsequent maintenance of the new fleet of trains.

Thameslink: Trade Unions

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 June 2011, Official Report, columns 85-86WS, on Thameslink Rolling Stock, whether Siemens has committed to recognising the trade unions representing train maintenance staff at First Capital Connect (FCC) when the contract for the rolling stock maintenance transfers from FCC to Siemens; and what steps he has taken to secure such a commitment.

Theresa Villiers: The Thameslink rolling stock project invitation to tender did not require bidders to give a general commitment to recognise trade unions. However, where existing First Capital Connect maintenance staff transfer to Siemens and the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) apply, any rights of the employee to union recognition will be preserved.

Thameslink: Trade Unions

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 June 2011, Official Report, columns 85-86WS, on Thameslink Rolling Stock, whether bidders' policies on (a) industrial relations and (b) union recognition were taken into account when awarding the Thameslink contract.

Theresa Villiers: The criteria against which bids for the Thameslink rolling stock contract were judged were set by the previous Government and included an evaluation of affordability, value for money and deliverability. No criteria relating to industrial relations or union recognition were included in the invitation to tender.

Transport: Cleethorpes

Martin Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding he has allocated to (a) road, (b) railway and (c) port infrastructure in Cleethorpes constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Michael Penning: The information is not available in the form requested.
	However, the following table lists the integrated transport and highway maintenance blocks, which are capital funding used by local transport authorities for small transport improvement schemes costing less than £5 million and for resurfacing, maintenance or replacement of bridges/tunnels and occasional reinstatement of roads following natural disasters.
	
		
			 £000 
			 Financial year Integrated transport block allocated to north-east Lincolnshire Maintenance block allocated to north-east Lincolnshire Total allocated to north-east Lincolnshire 
			 2001-02 2,100 965 3,065 
			 2002-03 4,700 970 5,670 
			 2003-04 3,600 1,128 4,728 
			 2004-05 3,220 2,067 5,287 
			 2005-06 2,000 961 2,961 
			 2006-07 2,185 1,025 3,210 
			 2007-08 2,231 1,168 3,399 
			 2008-09 2,058 1,207 3,265 
			 2009-10 1,901 1,327 3,228 
			 2010-11 1,297 1,526 2,823 
			 2011-12 1,698 1,126 2,824 
			 2012-13(1) 1,646 1,201 2,847 
			 (1) As announced to the House on 13 December 2010. 
		
	
	It is for the authority to determine how these allocations are spent in line with its priorities.
	In addition, funding for the routine maintenance of local roads is provided through the Communities and Local Government Department's revenue support grant. This grant is also unhypothecated and may be applied to any services.
	The ports industry operates on a commercial basis and does not normally receive funding from Government. However, a grant of £382,480 was awarded by the Strategic Rail Authority to DFDS Tor Line Ltd in November 2002. This grant was provided to support the cost of facilities at the DFDS Nordic terminal at the port of Immingham.

Transport: Livestock

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vessels transporting live farm animals have used the port of Ramsgate in each of the last six months; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: One vessel has used the port of Ramsgate to transport live farm animals in the last six months.

Transport: Per Capita Costs

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the level of expenditure per person on transport infrastructure in (a) Yorkshire, (b) London, (c) England, (d) Scotland and (e) Wales in each year since 2006.

Theresa Villiers: Total expenditure on transport infrastructure is not held centrally.
	Information about capital and current expenditure by central Government and local government, together with capital expenditure by public corporations, is collected and published by HM Treasury. This will include non-infrastructure spend. The latest figures for total expenditure for 2005-06 to 2009-10 are published in Table 9.8e in Chapter 9 of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis, Country and Regional Analysis, available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pesa09_chapter9.pdf
	This table gives total expenditure as well as capital and current expenditure for each English region, including Yorkshire and the Humber and London, for England as a whole, and for Scotland and Wales.
	Total expenditure on transport (capital and current together) on a per person basis can be found in Table 9.15 of the same document.

West Coast InterCity

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has allocated (a) funding and (b) staff for preparation of safety documentation should Directly Operated Railways become responsible for the InterCity West Coast rail franchise.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 29 June 2011
	The Department is currently in commercial negotiations to secure interim operations for the Intercity West Coast franchise from 1 April to 9 December 2012. As per arrangements for any forthcoming franchise end date, the Department has appropriate contingency funding and resourcing available.
	The existing contract already allows for a six-month extension if required.

JUSTICE

Arrests

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many persons arrested in Cambridgeshire have been processed in the police investigation centre near King’s Lynn since its opening; and what the average cost of processing such persons was.

James Brokenshire: I have been asked to reply.
	A total of 19,959 individuals were arrested in Cambridgeshire in 2009-10, which are the latest figures available. Information about the number of individuals processed in the police investigations centre and the average cost of processing those individuals is not collected centrally.

Bail

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) women and (b) men 
	(1)  absconded while awaiting trial in each year since 2001;
	(2)  released on bail were found to have interfered with witnesses while awaiting trial in each year since 2001.

Crispin Blunt: The number of females and males proceeded against at magistrates courts for absconding while on bail in England and Wales from 2001 to 2010 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table.
	Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice does not record how many defendants released on bail were found to have interfered with witnesses while awaiting trial.
	Court proceedings data for 2011 will be available in the spring of 2012.
	
		
			 Number of females and males proceeded against at the magistrates courts for absconding (1) , England and Wales, 2001 - 10 (2, 3) 
			 Sex 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 (4) 2009 2010 
			 Absconding by person released on bail          
			 Female 7,006 8,259 9,891 8,963 8,012 6,946 6,044 5,256 4,696 5,022 
			 Male 38,041 43,928 47,671 48,037 44,250 40,834 35,297 28,354 25,042 26,475 
			 Not stated(5) — — — — — — — 274 201 167 
			 Total 45,047 52,187 57,562 57,000 52,262 47,780 41,341 33,884 29,939 31,664 
			 (1 )Bail Act 1976, section 6. (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. (5) Following the introduction of the Libra case management system during 2008, offenders at magistrates courts can now be recorded as sex ‘not stated’. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice.

Blagging

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which Acts of Parliament have established that activities commonly referred to as blagging are criminal offences.

Kenneth Clarke: Although the activity known as “blagging” is not defined in legislation, there are several Acts that provide for criminal offences which are relevant in this area, depending on the circumstances of the case.
	These offences may include fraud by false representation under the Fraud Act 2006 and unlawfully obtaining personal data without the consent of the data controller under the Data Protection Act 1998.
	In many cases, blagging may be part of a course of criminal conduct which also includes the commission of other offences such as unlawful interception of communications under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and unauthorised access to computer material under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

Chief Coroner

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the (a) Shipman inquiry and (b) Luce review in relation to a chief coroner.

Jonathan Djanogly: A number of recommendations from the Shipman inquiry and the Luce review were taken forward in Part One of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. The Ministry of Justice has considered how powers in the 2009 Act should be implemented in light of the decision not to proceed with the office of the Chief Coroner. The results of this assessment were set out in the Secretary of State’s statement to Parliament of 14 June 2011.

Civil Proceedings: Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons the Government intend (a) to allow for the recoverability of after-the-event insurance premiums for expert reports in clinical negligence cases and (b) not to allow for the recoverability of such premiums for expert reports in other complex personal injury cases under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.

Jonathan Djanogly: As indicated in “Reforming Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales - Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson’s Recommendations: The Government Response”, published and announced to Parliament on 29 March 2011, Cm 8041, the Government are aware of specific concerns in relation to the funding of expert reports in clinical negligence cases. Such reports, which can be expensive, are of particular importance in clinical negligence actions, where they are generally necessary to establish liability before it can be determined whether a potential claim has sufficient merit to be pursued.

Civil Proceedings: Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what effects he anticipates enactment of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill and associated secondary legislation will have on the after-the-event insurance industry.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Government have published an impact assessment alongside the reforms proposed in the Government response paper “Reforming Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales - Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson’s Recommendations: The Government Response” on 29 March 2011, Cm 8041, now being taken forward in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. This impact assessment identifies potential impacts on individuals, groups and businesses.

Civil Proceedings: Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whom he intends to consult in the development of secondary legislation related to the civil litigation funding and costs clauses of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Government's response paper “Reforming Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales - Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations: the Government Response” published on 29 March 2011, Cm 8041, confirmed that the Government would continue to discuss with stakeholders how the detail of various elements of the package of reform should be drafted and that consultation on the changes to be implemented by way of secondary legislation would follow in due course as appropriate. My officials are in discussion with the Civil Justice Council and others with a view to setting up expert groups to consider these issues. Further details will be published in due course.

Civil Proceedings: Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to implement Lord Justice Jackson’s recommendations on qualified one-way cost shifting and the introduction of an additional sanction under part 36 of the Civil Procedure Rules.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Government intend to implement the proposals for qualified one-way costs shifting and an additional sanction under part 36, as indicated in “Reforming Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales - Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson’s Recommendations: The Government Response”, which was published and announced to Parliament on 29 March 2011, Cm 8041. Clause 51 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill makes provision to allow an additional sanction under part 36. Qualified one-way costs shifting will be implemented by way of amendment to the Civil Procedure Rules.

Community Legal Advice: Finance

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to the public purse was of the Community Legal Advice helpline in each of the last five years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The cost of the Community Legal Advice helpline, established in July 2004, is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2005-06 8.4 
			 2006-07 12.1 
			 2007-08 16.7 
			 2008-09 19.1 
			 2009-10 23.8 
			 2010-11(1) 23.3 
			 (1 )Figures for 2010-11 are unaudited.

Community Legal Advice: Finance

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding he plans to allocate to the Community Legal Advice helpline in each of the next three years.

Jonathan Djanogly: Provisional funding allocation for the Community Legal Advice helpline (both operator and specialist advice services) for 2011-12 is approximately £23 million. Finalised allocation is pending detailed planning, following the Government's publication of the legal aid reform consultation response.
	No funding allocations have yet been made for 2012-13 and 2013-14.

Conditions of Employment

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many meetings officials of his Department have had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the Government's employment law review since May 2011.

Jonathan Djanogly: Further to my answer of 21 June 2011, Official Report, column 172W, and given our responsibility for administering employment tribunals and the wider courts system, my Department has been consulted throughout on the proposals for the employment law review. In particular, we have worked closely with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) on proposals contained in the resolving workplace disputes consultation, which was a joint exercise with my Department. My officials meet with counterparts from BIS regularly in this and other regards.

Coroners

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have met several charities at the same time to discuss coroner reform; what organisations were present on each occasion; and what the dates of these meetings were.

Jonathan Djanogly: On 25 October 2010 I held a meeting with the following organisations:
	INQUEST;
	Royal British Legion;
	British Lung Foundation;
	Cardiac Risk in the Young;
	Action Against Medical Accidents;
	RoadPeace;
	Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association;
	Child Bereavement Charity;
	Victim Support;
	Epilepsy Bereaved;
	Compassionate Friends;
	Cruse Bereavement Care; and
	Coroners' Court Support Service.
	In addition to this meeting, I met the Royal British Legion on 1 February 2011, INQUEST on 27 April 2011, Cardiac Risk in the Young on 9 May 2011, and the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and I met the Royal British Legion on 12 May 2011.

Coroners: Armed Forces

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what arrangements have been agreed between his Department and the Scottish Government on the holding of fatal accident inquiries into the deaths of armed forces personnel based in Scotland.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence, Scottish Government and Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are in the process of agreeing a protocol for effective liaison where it might be appropriate to hold a fatal accident inquiry in Scotland.
	The protocol will support statutory provisions being introduced under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 that will allow, for the first time, investigations into the deaths abroad of military personnel to be transferred, where appropriate, to Scotland in order for a fatal accident Inquiry to be held.

Coroners: Judicial Review

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many days of the High Court were spent on judicial reviews relating to inquests in each year since 2006-07.

Jonathan Djanogly: Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service does not routinely keep a record of the sitting time for individual cases. To obtain the information where sitting times have been recorded would be at disproportionate cost because each case file would need to be checked manually to establish whether a sitting time had been recorded. Even then, the information would be incomplete.

Coroners: Judicial Review

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many judicial reviews relating to inquests were heard in the High Court in each year since 2006-07.

Jonathan Djanogly: Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service has provided the following figures in relation to judicial review proceedings brought against coroners’ decisions in the administrative court for each financial year since 2006-07.
	
		
			 Judicial review civil: coroners 
			  Oral applications Paper applications Renewal hearings Substantive hearings 
			 2006-07 3 10 2 3 
			 2007-08 5 20 1 4 
			 2008-09 4 16 12 5 
			 2009-10 1 14 6 12 
			 2010-11 1 13 3 3 
		
	
	While every effort has been made to ensure that these figures are accurate, the information has been extracted from a large administrative data system and may be subject to minor amendments following data validation in due course.

Courts: Enforcement Services

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he plans to take to assess the financial position of a private company providing criminal court enforcement services.

Jonathan Djanogly: Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service is developing a strategy for the enforcement of fines and how best to improve this in the future. This could include forming a partnership with a commercial partner.
	No tender process has commenced as yet for the provision of enforcement functions. The relevant financial evaluation criteria in respect of the competition will be published at the appropriate stages in the procurement exercise and in accordance with Government policy.

Courts: Enforcement Services

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to require private sector companies to make payments to his Department in relation to the tendering process for criminal court enforcement contracts.

Jonathan Djanogly: The relevant details of any competition will be published at the appropriate stages in the procurement exercise and in accordance with Government policy.

Courts: Enforcement Services

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether a private sector operator of a contract for collection of criminal court fines will be able to place a charge on offenders.

Jonathan Djanogly: No tender process is under way for the provision of the collection of court fines. Therefore, the detail about the provision of services is not yet known.

Apprentices

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  whether his Department has a policy on requirements for the provision of (a) apprenticeships and (b) other training by (i) his Department's prime contractors and (ii) suppliers in the supply chain of such contractors;
	(2)  how many apprenticeships have been created directly by contracts with his Department in each of the last three years.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice does not have specific policies requiring prime contractors or suppliers to offer (a) apprenticeships or (b) other training.
	The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has taken a number of steps to ensure compliance with the guidance produced by the Office of Government Commerce on promoting skills through public procurement published in 2009.
	We have published our commitment to the programme on the MoJ procurement website, where it is available for suppliers and members of the public to view.
	We have inserted a new schedule in our standard tender documents explaining this important initiative and, where appropriate, requiring tenderers to ensure that a specified proportion of hours worked on the contract are to be delivered by an employee on an apprentice or training programme.
	For the financial year 2008-09 the number of apprenticeships created directly by Ministry of Justice contracts was not recorded, and to obtain this information would incur disproportionate costs.
	For the financial year 2009-10 it was reported that 12 new apprenticeship placements were supported through Ministry of Justice contracts.
	For the financial year 2010-11, data has yet to be collated and reported upon, but it is the intention to have this information on record by September 2011.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the carbon dioxide emissions from his Department in (a) June 2010 and (b) June 2011.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice works on actual data for carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions from the Ministry of Justice office estate in June 2010 amounted to 9,768 tonnes. This does not include any emissions from the National Offender Management Service custodial estate or HM Land Registry ancillary estate.
	Between 14 May 2010 and 13 May 2011 the Ministry of Justice delivered a reduction of 11.5% in carbon dioxide emissions from its office estate.
	The Ministry is unable to provide figures for June 2011 as it is still collating and validating this data.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people have been (a) recruited and (b) made redundant from (i) his Department and (ii) each non-departmental body for which he is responsible since May 2010;
	(2)  how much (a) his Department and (b) each non-departmental body for which he is responsible has spent on redundancies since May 2010.

Jonathan Djanogly: We have been unable to gather all the information my right hon. Friend has requested in the time scale. These data are not held centrally and have been requested from our non-departmental bodies. I will write to him with a full response when this information is available.

Departmental Manpower

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) offenders and (b) staff there were at HMP Birmingham on 1 October of each of the last five years; and if he will estimate the equivalent numbers for 1 October 2011.

Crispin Blunt: The following table shows the prison population at HMP Birmingham on the last Friday of September in each of the last five years. There are no planned changes to the operational capacity at HMP Birmingham.
	
		
			  Number of prisoners 
			 29 September 2006 1,450 
			 24 September 2007 1,458 
			 26 September 2008 1,433 
			 25 September 2009 1,409 
			 24 September 2010 1,449 
		
	
	The following table shows the staff in post at HMP Birmingham on 30 September 2006 to 2010.
	
		
			  Headcount Full-time equivalent 
			 30 September 2006 806 788 
			 30 September 2007 803 784 
			 30 September 2008 816 792 
			 30 September 2009 785 758 
			 30 September 2010 751 720 
		
	
	From October 2011 HMP Birmingham will be run by G4S. Discussions are ongoing with trade unions on the terms of this transfer in line with the TUPE Regulations. It is not possible to estimate the staffing position as at 1 October 2011 as staff at HMP Birmingham may continue to apply for roles elsewhere in the public sector prior to the transfer date.

Electronic Tagging: Children

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many children released from custody were placed on a tag in the most recent year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many children released from custody and placed on a tag were recalled to custody following a breach of their licence conditions in the most recent year for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many children released from custody and placed on a tag were serving a detention and training order in the most recent year for which figures are available;
	(4)  how many children released from custody were recalled following a breach of their licence conditions in each youth offending team area in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(5)  how many children released from custody and placed on a tag while serving a detention and training order were recalled to custody following a breach of their licence conditions in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: A young person can be placed on electronic monitoring as part of their bail package, as part of a curfew order or, if they are sentenced, due to a condition of their licence.
	The total number of juvenile cases (under 18) monitored electronically following release from custody in the financial year 2010-11 was 1656.
	The total number of juvenile cases (under 18) monitored electronically following release from custody on a detention and training order (DTO) in the financial year 2010-11 was 1603.
	The following table shows the number of young people who started a recall to custody episode in 2009-10 following a breach of their licence conditions (regardless of when their original sentence was) in each youth offending team (YOT) area. This was 630 in total.
	Information relating to the number of children released from custody and placed on a tag were recalled to custody following a breach of their licence conditions is not held centrally in an electronic format. To collect this data would involve contacting all 158 YOTs and asking them to check individual case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Table 1. Number of young people who started a recall to custody episode in 2009-10 in each YOT area 
			 Youth  o ffending  t eam Number of young people who started a recall to custody episode 
			 Barking and Dagenham 4 
			 Barnet 0 
			 Barnsley 2 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 5 
			 Bedfordshire 5 
			 Bexley 1 
			 Birmingham 17 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 5 
			 Blackpool 1 
			 Blaenau, Gwent and Caerphilly 4 
			 Bolton 3 
			 Bournemouth and Poole 0 
			 Bracknell Forest 2 
			 Bradford 8 
			 Brent 2 
			 Bridgend 2 
			 Brighton and Hove 1 
			 Bristol 6 
			 Bromley 1 
			 Buckinghamshire 3 
			 Bury 3 
			 Calderdale 3 
		
	
	
		
			 Cambridgeshire 0 
			 Camden 0 
			 Cardiff 5 
			 Carmarthenshire 6 
			 Ceredigion 0 
			 Cheshire 6 
			 Conwy and Denbighshire 2 
			 Cornwall 1 
			 Coventry 5 
			 Croydon 5 
			 Cumbria 10 
			 Darlington 5 
			 Derby 9 
			 Derbyshire 4 
			 Devon 0 
			 Doncaster 5 
			 Dorset 0 
			 Dudley 1 
			 Durham 6 
			 Ealing 0 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 2 
			 East Sussex 8 
			 Enfield 0 
			 Essex 7 
			 Flintshire 3 
			 Gateshead 7 
			 Gloucestershire 1 
			 Greenwich 1 
			 Gwynedd Mon 4 
			 Hackney 2 
			 Halton and Warrington 0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 
			 Haringey 1 
			 Harrow 1 
			 Hartlepool 0 
			 Havering 2 
			 Hertfordshire 3 
			 Hillingdon 0 
			 Hounslow 1 
			 Islington 2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1 
			 Kent 10 
			 Krngston-Upon-Hull 5 
			 Kingston-Upon-Thames 2 
			 Kirklees 5 
			 Knowsley 6 
			 Lambeth 1 
			 Lancashire 15 
			 Leeds 18 
			 Leicester City 11 
			 Leicestershire 1 
			 Lewisham 1 
			 Lincolnshire 4 
			 Liverpool 12 
			 Luton 1 
			 Manchester 29 
			 Medway 3 
			 Merthyr Tydfil 7 
			 Merton 3 
		
	
	
		
			 Milton Keynes 1 
			 Monmouthshire and Torfaen 0 
			 Neath Port Talbot 1 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 5 
			 Newham 5 
			 Newport 3 
			 Norfolk 9 
			 North East Lincolnshire 0 
			 North Lincolnshire 4 
			 North Somerset 1 
			 North Tyneside 5 
			 North Yorkshire 6 
			 Northamptonshire 5 
			 Northumberland 2 
			 Nottingham 25 
			 Nottinghamshire 4 
			 Oldham 5 
			 Oxfordshire 3 
			 Pembrokeshire 1 
			 Peterborough 5 
			 Plymouth 1 
			 Powys 0 
			 Reading 3 
			 Redbridge 3 
			 Rhondda Cynon Taff 3 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 1 
			 Rochdale 11 
			 Rotherham 4 
			 Salford 2 
			 Sandwell 3 
			 Sefton 1 
			 Sheffield 9 
			 Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin 2 
			 Slough 0 
			 Solihull 2 
			 Somerset 4 
			 South Gloucestershire 0 
			 South Tees 13 
			 South Tyneside 2 
			 Southend-on-Sea 3 
			 Southwark 8 
			 St. Helens 3 
			 Staffordshire 4 
			 Stockport 3 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 2 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 4 
			 Suffolk 9 
			 Sunderland 4 
			 Surrey 0 
			 Sutton 0 
			 Swansea 2 
			 Swindon 1 
			 Tameside 1 
			 Thurrock 4 
			 Torbay 1 
			 Tower Hamlets and City of London 0 
			 Trafford 4 
			 Vale of Glamorgan 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Wakefield 2 
			 Walsall 2 
			 Waltham Forest 2 
			 Wandswortb 6 
			 Warwickshire 0 
			 Wessex 38 
			 West Berkshire 2 
			 West Sussex 2 
			 Westminster 5 
			 Wigan 6 
			 Wiltshire 2 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 0 
			 Wirral 5 
			 Wokingham 0 
			 Wolverhampton 2 
			 Worcestershire and Herefordshire 10 
			 Wrexham 7 
			 York 3 
			 Total 630 
			 1. The data come from the YJB's secure accommodation clearing house system (SACHS). 2. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible data entry and processing errors and may be subject to change over time.

Immigration Advisory Service

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with the Immigration Advisory Service regarding the status of the current clients of the service and their on-going legal cases.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has been working closely with the Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) for some time now following an audit which raised concerns about the company’s financial management and claims irregularities, and as such the Trustees of the IAS decided that the organisation had to enter into administration on 8 July 2011.
	The primary concern for the Government and the LSC now is to ensure clients of IAS continue to get the help they need. The LSC expects that the administration of IAS will allow a managed close down process of IAS's activities and an orderly transfer of clients to new providers. Provisional arrangements have been made to ensure that any emergency cases are dealt with speedily.
	Meanwhile the LSC is identifying alternative advice provision in the areas affected and arrangements for case transfer will follow as soon as possible. Three IAS hub centres will be kept open for the moment: in Manchester, Birmingham and Bradford, which will help facilitate the transfer of these cases.

Immigration Advisory Service

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure repayment of money which the Immigration Advisory Service claimed in error to the Legal Services Commission.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is working with the administrators to establish the value of claims for work that had not been submitted for payment when the Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) entered administration, following a decision by its Trustees on 8 July 2011. These claims will be set off against any sum that is confirmed as being owed to the LSC as a result of the contract compliance audit, which has not yet concluded.

Judges: Retirement

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what arrangements govern the posts former judges are able to take up following the end of their appointment.

Kenneth Clarke: Salaried judicial office holders are appointed on the understanding that they do not return to private practice as a barrister or solicitor in their former jurisdiction. Former judges may, however, provide services as independent arbitrators or mediators.

Legal Aid Scheme

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many clinical negligence claims made with assistance from legal aid by claimants in north Wales were successful in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and how much was paid to (i) the claimants and (ii) their legal representatives in consequence in each such year.

Jonathan Djanogly: In relation to damages paid to claimants resulting from clinical negligence cases in north Wales, this information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial year Volume Damages (£) Legal fees (£) 
			 2008-09 5 353,200 0 
			 2009-10 13 295,000 25,360 
		
	
	Payment of damages reflects amounts paid in cases closed in the financial year. The amount of fees paid will reflect instances where a case is settled and costs have been agreed between the parties. These fees may relate to cases that settled in previous years.

Legal Aid Scheme

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what criteria will be used to determine the most serious cases under his proposals for reform of legal aid; and how many cases met those criteria in 2009-10.

Jonathan Djanogly: The starting point for our consideration has been to examine, from first principles, which issues should attract public funding in the light of the financial constraints. In reaching our proposals, we have taken into account our domestic, European and international legal obligations, including the European convention on human rights, and have also taken into account the importance of the issue at stake in the case, the litigant's ability to present their own case, the availability of alternative sources of funding and the availability of other routes of resolution. Our impact assessment shows that, based on cases funded in 2009-10, we intend to retain approximately 390,000 acts of assistance within scope of the civil legal aid scheme.

Legal Aid Scheme: Children

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether children representing themselves in civil cases will have access to legal aid under his proposed reforms to legal aid.

Jonathan Djanogly: For cases retained within the scope of the civil legal aid scheme, children and adults will have access to legal aid, subject to the usual tests of financial means and the merits of the case. We have announced our intention to retain legal aid for children for family proceedings. This will primarily be where the judge decides that it is in the best interests of the child for them to be separately represented from the other parties in the case (usually their parents).
	For cases that will be excluded from the scope of the civil legal aid scheme, there will be a safety net in the form of our exceptional funding scheme. This will allow funding to be granted in individual excluded cases where failure to provide funding would amount to a breach of the individual's rights to legal aid under the Human Rights Act 1988 or EU law. In considering whether exceptional funding should be granted, we will take into account the ability of the client to present their own case, the complexity of the issues, the importance of the issues at stake and all other relevant circumstances. In the vast majority of civil cases, parents will be bringing proceedings on behalf of their children as their litigation friend. Where children are acting without a litigation friend, this would be taken into consideration in deciding whether they had the ability to present their own case.

Legal Aid Scheme: Children

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many civil cases relating to (a) debt, (b) immigration, (c) housing and (d) benefits where legal aid advice or representation was provided involved a self-represented child or a child represented by a legal guardian in 2009-10; and what the cost to the public purse was of legal aid in each category of case.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not hold information which clearly distinguishes between children who represented themselves and children represented by a legal guardian. However, the following tables outline the volume of cases and the costs to legal aid to represent persons under the age of 18 years in the financial year 2009-10 for matters involving debt, housing, immigration and asylum, and welfare benefits.
	
		
			 Civil representation 2009-10 
			 Category Closed cases Closed case spend (£) 
			 Debt 4 20,926 
			 Housing 162 328,661 
			 Immigration and Asylum 72 226,709 
			 Welfare Benefits 2 5,701 
			 Sub total 240 581,997 
		
	
	
		
			 Legal help 2009-10 
			 Category Claim volume Claim value (£) 
			 Debt 127 26,590 
			 Housing 1,308 294,460 
		
	
	
		
			 Immigration and Asylum 11,412 10,365,387 
			 Welfare Benefits 1,278 249,608 
			 Sub total 14,125 10,936,045

Legal Aid Scheme: Children

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases where legal aid advice or representation was provided, involved (a) children at risk of abuse and (b) international child abduction in 2009-10; and what the cost to the public purse was of the legal aid provided in such cases.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not record information separately that counts those cases where there are concerns that children are at risk of abuse. Table 1 shows the number of public law family cases and spend for 2009-10. It is considered that it is likely that children funded in these categories may be at risk of abuse.
	Table 2 shows the number of international child abduction cases and expenditure funded under a legal aid certificate. However, there may also be other types of matters, such as wardship, which involve issues of child abduction. These figures exclude advice and assistance under legal help as the LSC does not record this level of detail under legal help.
	
		
			 Table 1: Public law family cases, 2009-10 
			 Category Volume of closed cases Closed case spend (£000) 
			 Special Children Act 27,233 265,690 
			 Other public law children 7,078 38,097 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: International child abduction cases, 2009-10 
			 Proceeding code Volume of closed cases Closed case spend (£000) 
			 Child Abduction/Custody Act 1985 182 2,231 
			 Child Abduction/Custody free (non means-tested) 188 2,598

Legal Aid Scheme: Domestic Violence

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many claimants have received legal aid in relation to domestic violence cases in each of the last five years; and what the cost to the public purse was of legal aid in relation to domestic violence cases in each of the last five years.

Jonathan Djanogly: Legal aid in domestic violence funds two levels of service; legal help for initial advice, and civil representation funded under a legal aid certificate in cases likely to proceed to court.
	The value of legal aid claims under legal help and the number of matters started are included in Table A.
	
		
			 Table A 
			  Volume Value (£ million) 
			 2005-06 16,786 3.3 
			 2006-07 16,974 3.4 
		
	
	
		
			 2007-08 26,245 5.2 
			 2008-09(1) 29,360 6.4 
			 2009-10(1) 28,724 6.9 
			 (1) Before October 2007 it was possible to report only one matter in family legal help e.g. children or domestic violence. The new way of recording allows the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to record multiple matters. So advice involving both children and domestic violence can now be recorded as such. Whereas it would have been domestic violence or children before. 
		
	
	The expenditure and the number of cases funded under a legal aid certificate are included in Table B.
	
		
			 Table B 
			  Volume Value (£ million) 
			 2005-06 21,222 62.1 
			 2006-07 19,509 59.3 
			 2007-08 19,631 61.7 
			 2008-09 21,645 69.3 
			 2009-10 20,984 64.3 
		
	
	Table C shows the number of cases funded under a legal aid certificate together with the legal costs where they are met by the opponent to the party funded under legal aid.
	
		
			 Table C 
			  Volume Value (£ million) 
			 2005-06 40 0.2 
			 2006-07 43 0.2 
			 2007-08 36 0.2 
			 2008-09 26 0.2 
			 2009-10 16 0.1

Legal Aid Scheme: Per Capita Costs

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which countries his Department used to benchmark the average cost per head of legal aid; and what the average cost per head is in each such country.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry’s assessment of the average cost per head of legal aid abroad relies on the research report “International Comparison of Publicly Funded Legal Services and Justice Systems” which provides robust comparisons of legal aid spending in England and Wales and a selection of European and non-European countries, as well as an assessment of the difficulties of international comparisons in this area. It is published on the Ministry of Justice website at
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/comparison-public-fund-legal-services-justice-systems.pdf
	In addition, the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) publishes reports on “European Judicial Systems: Efficiency and Quality of Justice”, which are updated every two years. These reports contain a range of information on judicial systems, including legal aid, for a broad selection of European countries. The latest report is available at
	http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/cooperation/cepej/evaluation/default_en.asp

Legal Costs

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to table 6.5, chapter 2, of the Review of Civil Litigation Costs: Preliminary Report, May 2009, what costs were paid by defendants to the claimants' solicitors in each type and category in respect of category B claims concluded in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009.

Jonathan Djanogly: The table the hon. Gentleman refers to appears at Part 2: Chapter 6 of Lord Justice Jackson's preliminary report of his review of civil litigation costs, and the data were provided by the Legal Services Commission. Equivalent figures for (a) 2008 and (b) 2009 are available on the Legal Services Commission's website, in the annual ‘statistical information’ publications. I should point out that the figures relate to financial years, rather than calendar years.
	The figures for 2008-09 can be found in table CLS9 in ‘Statistical Information 2008-09’, available at:
	http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/archive/archive_about.asp
	The figures for 2009-10 can be found in table CLS9 in ‘Statistical Information 2009-10 - July 2010’, available at:
	http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/aboutus/how/strategic_publications.asp#annual

Magistrates Courts: ICT

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the monetary value in today's prices is of the (a) original estimate and (b) final cost of the magistrates courts Libra computer system; and what additional costs, in current prices have been incurred since its completion.

Jonathan Djanogly: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) The original ICL bid for the Libra project in May 1998 estimated its cost at £146 million over 11 years; and
	(b) the project's outturn cost when it closed on 31 March 2009 was £444 million (comprising £232 million for infrastructure (completed 2003); and £212 million for the application (completed 2008)). The ongoing service charge for the Libra application has been £10 million in each of the years 2009-10 and 2010-11, and for the current financial year it is £11.4 million. Maintenance and development costs for the Libra infrastructure are subsumed under a contract which serves Crown and county courts, tribunals and HQ, as well as magistrates courts, and it is not possible to provide separate figures for these. To calculate the monetary value of the Libra project in today's prices for the whole of its life-cycle would incur disproportionate cost.

Child Sexual Exploitation

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2011, Official Report, column 62-4W on child sexual exploitation, what offences relating to child sexual exploitation were included in the data provided.

Crispin Blunt: The offence descriptions relating to child sexual exploitation that were included in the answer of 23 June 2011, Official Report, columns 62-4W, can be viewed in the following table.
	
		
			 Offences relating to child sexual exploitation 
			 Statute Section Description 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.1 Rape and attempted rape of a child under 16 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.5 Rape and attempted rape of a child under 13 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.6 Assault on a child under 13 by Penetration 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.7 Sexual assault of a child under 13 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.8 (1) and (2) and (3) Causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.9 Sexual activity with a child 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.10 Causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.11 Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.12 Causing a child to watch a sexual act 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.14 Arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.15 Meeting a child following sexual grooming 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.47 Paying for sexual services of a child 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.48 Causing or inciting child prostitution or pornography 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.49 Controlling a child prostitute or a child involved in pornography 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.50 Arranging or facilitating child prostitution or pornography 
			 Sexual Offences Act 1956 as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 S.142 S.1 Rape and attempted rape of a child 
			 Sexual Offences Act 1956 S.5 Unlawful sexual intercourse with a child under 13 
			 Sexual Offences Act 1956 S.6 Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl child under 16 
			 Sexual Offences Act 1956 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act S.12 Buggery or attempted buggery 
			 Sexual Offences Act 1956 S.25 Householder permitting girl under 13 years to use premises for intercourse 
			 Sexual Offences Act 1956 S.26 Householder permitting girl under 16 years to use premises for intercourse 
			 Sexual Offences Act 1956 S.28 Causing or encouraging prostitution of, intercourse with, or indecent assault on, girl under sixteen 
			 Indecency with Children Act 1960 Sec 1 Gross indecency with children

Offenders: Rehabilitation

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many offenders serving life sentences have cognitive self-change programmes in their sentence plans;
	(2)  how many cognitive self-change programme places there will be in prisons in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013.

Crispin Blunt: Details of the individual sentence plan requirements for prisoners serving life sentences are not held centrally and the number of life-sentence prisoners with a recommendation in their sentence plan to complete the cognitive self-change programme (CSCP) could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by collecting information held on offender files or on local data systems, validating it, and then collating it in a common format in order to provide a response.
	NOMS targets for the provision of places on accredited offending behaviour programmes are set for business years (i.e. 1 April to 31 March) rather than calendar years. In 2011-12 the target is to provide a total of 60 places for CSCP in prison establishments in England and Wales.
	The targets for future years have yet to be set.

Offenders: Unpaid Work

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many incidents occurred involving offenders in unpaid work groups of each size of group in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010.

Crispin Blunt: Information is not collected on the size of the group of offenders in which an incident occurred.
	Information is available on the number of incidents involving offenders in unpaid work in 2009 and 2010, and the average size of groups of offenders in unpaid work for 2010-11.
	In 2009 there were at least 607 reported incidents involving offenders in unpaid work.
	In 2010 there were at least 791 reported incidents involving offenders in unpaid work.
	In 2010-11 the average size of groups of offenders in unpaid work was six.
	Note:
	Data are not available on incidents in the former Sussex probation area and so figures for ‘Number of reported incidents involving offenders in unpaid work’ in 2009 and 2010 will understate the total number of incidents.

Prisons: Discipline

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward proposals to make available to (a) the public, (b) victims of crime and (c) interested parties the disciplinary records of offenders while in prison, including details of (i) offences and (ii) breaches of prison rules committed while in custody.

Crispin Blunt: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 28 June 2011, Official Report, column 712W.

Prisons: Information Technology

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on development of a new IT system for the prison service between the commissioning of the system and the decision not to proceed with it.

Crispin Blunt: The cost of the C-NOMIS project from inception to December 2007 was £160.7 million (before financing). A strategic review of the C-NOMIS project was requested by the then Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Delyn (Mr Hanson), in August 2007 following discovery that the original business case was unaffordable. On 8 January 2008, the C-NOMIS project was revised and became part of the new NOMIS programme. The C-NOMIS project was delivered successfully, on time and within budget in May 2010.

Prisons: Mother and Baby Units

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many babies have been born to women committed to Prison Service custody in each of the last 15 years.

Crispin Blunt: Information on the number of women who have given birth in prison is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, as in order to provide this information staff would need to look at each individual's record.

Prisons: Safety

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the standards of prison safety at HMP Birmingham on 1 October of each of the last five years; and if he will assess the likely standard on 1 October 2011.

Crispin Blunt: Standards of prison safety are not measured at any one point in the year, but are subject to measurement throughout the year using a range of data and assessments.
	Prisons are assessed regularly by external independent regulators, such as HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) and the local independent monitoring board (IMB), by NOMS internal audit and assurance teams, including a “measuring the suality of prison life” (MQPL) survey, and by NOMS national performance management using key performance indicators and targets (KPIs and KPTs), which include measurement of safety and security among others.
	Local management and staff are responsible for ensuring that safety, in all forms, is monitored on an ongoing basis and, where necessary, that prompt, corrective action is taken to minimise violence or self-harm.
	All prisons are subject to assessment and audit by NOMS management and external regulation regardless of provider. This has applied to HMP Birmingham over the last five years and will apply to HMP Birmingham on 1 October 2011 and after the completion of the handover to G4S, the new provider.

Remand in Custody

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many (a) women and (b) men remanded in custody in each year since 2001 subsequently received a custodial sentence that was served fully on remand;
	(2)  how many (a) women and (b) men were remanded in custody on the grounds of (i) being accused of a serious offence, (ii) risk of absconding, (iii) risk of interference of witnesses, (iv) lack of community ties and (v) risk of committing further offences in each year since 2001.

Crispin Blunt: Information on bail and remand collated centrally by the Ministry of Justice and held on the court proceedings database does not record the length of time defendants spent on remand. Therefore, it is not possible to say from the data available how many offenders receiving a custodial sentence served the time fully on remand.
	Information on bail and remand collated centrally by the Ministry of Justice and held on the court proceedings database does not record the reason(s) for remanding defendants into custody.
	The information regarding time spent on remand and reasons for remanding defendants to custody could be ascertained only by reference to individual court and prison files, which could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

Remand in Custody

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were held in custody on remand (a) on the last Friday of each month since May 2010 and (b) on the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: Monthly prison population statistics are typically reported based on the last day of the month, rather than the last Friday of the month. The following table shows the number of prisoners on remand as at the end of each month from May 2010 to March 2011 (latest published).
	
		
			 Remand prison population 
			  Number 
			 May 2010 12,958 
			 June 2010 13,004 
			 July 2010 12,611 
			 August 2010 13,028 
			 September 2010 12,706 
			 October 2010 12,755 
			 November 2010 12,681 
			 December 2010 11,784 
			 January 2011 12,598 
			 February 2011 12,615 
			 March 2011 12,300 
		
	
	These figures are published on the Ministry of Justice website in table 1.2 of the Offender Management Statistics Quarterly Bulletin, most recently up to March 2011. The publication can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/prisons-and-probation/oms-quartlery.htm
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Sexual Offences: Criminal Injuries Compensation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2011, Official Report, column 1212W, on sexual offences: Criminal Injuries Compensation, how many claims were made for compensation for (a) sexual assault injuries and (b) injuries categorised under the heading non-consensual vaginal and/or anal intercourse, or non-consensual penile penetration of the vagina and/or anus and/or mouth.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) does not hold that information. When people apply for criminal injuries compensation they are asking CICA to assess what happened to them, decide whether they are eligible for compensation and, if so, how much. Injury descriptions, from the criminal injuries compensation scheme's ‘tariff of injuries’, are used as the primary basis for paying compensation, so they are only reliably recorded once CICA has assessed someone as eligible to receive the compensation payable for that injury. Similarly, since payments are based on injuries and not crimes, CICA does not hold figures for how many people apply following a specific crime or type of crime.

Victim Support Schemes

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on supporting victims of crime and witnesses who were party to proceedings at York Crown court in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11.

Jonathan Djanogly: These figures are not recorded by my Department. The support of victims and witnesses party to proceedings at York Crown court are provided by a range of agencies, including the Victim's Service, HMCTS and the police. The agencies consider, on an individual basis, what support to provide to victims and witnesses depending upon their circumstances.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Access to Work Programme

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many disabled employees of his Department are receiving support from the Access to Work programme; and what proportion of the workforce of his Department this figure represents.

Edward Davey: There are no disabled employees in the Department receiving support from the Access to Work programme. Support under this programme was withdrawn from central Government Departments, including predecessors of BIS, in 2006.
	It is not possible to give an exact number of disabled employees who receive support in the form of workplace assessment or reasonable adjustments in line with those previously provided under the Access to Work programme as some reasonable adjustments are agreed between disabled employees and their line managers without a formal assessment process being required and are not therefore recorded or funded centrally.
	Some 280 employees have notified the Department that they have a disability and would as a consequence be offered a workplace assessment for recommended reasonable adjustments. The Department funded 48 workplace assessments during 2010.

Aimhigher Programme

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of activities to be delivered (a) following the end of the Aimhigher programme and (b) in the academic year 2011-12; and how such activities will be delivered;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the ability of universities to provide support and impartial service to students equivalent to that offered under the Aimhigher programme.

David Willetts: We are establishing a new framework, with increased responsibility on institutions to widen participation and greater Government investment in improving attainment and access for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Higher education institutions (HEIs) will deliver a range of outreach activities as part of their access agreements, agreed with the Office for Fair Access (OFFA), and their widening participation strategic assessments, agreed with the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
	We are moving away from an assessment of inputs and processes to a focus on clear outputs from access activities and measurable progress against appropriate benchmarks.
	It is right that universities have the freedom and flexibility to decide how to spend their resources in a way that offers the greatest benefit. Universities will be able to focus their outreach and other activities where they will have the most impact, including through partnerships. Last week OFFA announced its decisions on institutions' access agreements for 2012/13. The agreements contain institutions’ plans for investment in activities to widen access through programmes such as summer schools, scholarships and fee waivers, estimated to reach more than £600 million annually by 2015.

Aimhigher Programme

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he considered the merits of restructuring the Aimhigher programme.

David Willetts: Universities and schools have learned a lot from the Aimhigher programme about “what works” in raising the aspirations of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Much of this knowledge is now embedded in the sector. However, while there has been some progress in improving access to higher education, overall this has masked a position where institutions and courses that offer the greatest lifetime benefits to their graduates have failed to reflect the wider social mix of our country.
	We needed a new and different approach that builds on existing best practice while developing it further. We are establishing a new framework, with increased responsibility on institutions to widen participation and greater Government investment in improving attainment and access for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Last week the Office for Fair Access announced its decisions on institutions’ access agreements for 2012/13. The agreements contain institutions' plans for investment in activities to widen access through programmes such as summer schools, scholarships and fee waivers, estimated to reach more than £600 million annually by 2015.

Apprentices

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 23 June 2001, Official Report, column 21WS, on apprenticeships (creation of opportunities), what proportion of apprentices who started their apprenticeship in the 2010-11 academic year were undertaking learning under the Train to Gain scheme in 2009-10.

John Hayes: We do not have information available on the number of apprentices who started their apprenticeship in the 2010/11 academic year who were undertaking learning under the Train to Gain scheme in the 2009/10 academic year.
	Since May 2010, the Skills Funding Agency encouraged colleges and providers to switch(1) activity from Train to Gain to support more employers to invest in apprenticeships and support the Government's commitment to an additional 50,000 adult apprenticeships.
	Provisional data show that this Government have delivered 326,700 apprenticeship starts in the first nine months of the 2010/11 academic year—this is 114,000 more than the previous year and more than double our ambition.
	(1) In June 2011 (Statistical First Release) there were 327,000 apprenticeship starts and 354,000 Train to Gain starts (between August and April) compared to 212,000 apprenticeship starts and 427,000 Train to Gain starts for the same period in 2010.

Apprentices

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeship starts there were where the Skills Funding Agency’s 25 per cent. large employer discount was applied for (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 24 and (c) 25 plus apprenticeships in 2009-10 and the first three quarters of 2010-11.

John Hayes: holding answer 12 July 2011
	Table 1 shows the number of Apprenticeship starts where the Skills Funding Agency’s 25% rate reduction for large employers(1) was applied for 19 to 24 and 25+ apprenticeships between August 2010 and April 2011 for the 2010/2011 academic year.
	(1) The Apprenticeships 2010/11 Funding Requirements Version 2, published in October 2010, states that from 2010/11 there will be an up-front 25% rate reduction for all 19+ employer responsive provision delivered to and by large employers, that is, those with 1,000 or more employees. The publication can be found at this website:
	http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/SFA/ApprenticeshiFunding_ Requirements_2010_11-v2_October.pdf
	
		
			 Table 1: Apprenticeship starts for learners aged 19 and over, August to January 2010 to April 2011 (provisional) 
			  19 to 24 25+ 
			 Total Apprenticeship starts 102,800 121,000 
			 Of which:   
			 Apprenticeship starts that qualified for large employer reduction 22,400 36,400 
			 Note: All figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	The Skills Funding Agency first applied a 25% rate reduction for large employers at the start of the 2010-11 academic year. Data relating to the 25% reduction for large employers are not available for 2009/10. The 25% reduction for large employers applies onlyto 19+ provision, so data relating to 16 to 18-year-old learners are not available.
	In addition to the 25% rate reduction for large employers, the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and the Skills Funding Agency will seek to secure further value for money, such as unfunded learners, in their work with the largest national employers.

Apprentices

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many learners have started more than one apprenticeship at the same level since April 2009.

John Hayes: holding answer 12 July 2011
	Table 1 shows the number of learners who have started more than one apprenticeship programme at the same level and with the same provider in (i) the 2009/10 academic year and (ii) between August 2010 and April 2011 for the 2010/11 academic year, based on provisional data.
	
		
			 Table 1: Learners starting more than one Apprenticeship programme at the same level within an academic year, 2009/10 and August to April 2010/11 (provisional) 
			  2009/10 2010/11 August to April (provisional) 
			 Number of learners with more than one start 2,040 2,370 
			 Notes: 1. These figures are based on the number of apprentices who start more than one apprenticeship programme with the same provider and within the same academic year only. 2. These figures include those learners who have transferred or completed their apprenticeship programme. Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	There were a total of 279,700 apprenticeship programme starts in the 2009/10 academic year. In 2010/11 to date, provisional data show 326,700 programme starts between August 2010 and April 2011.
	A learner who starts more than one apprenticeship at the same level is normally only endorsed when an individual is changing their career. The “Apprenticeships 2010/11 Funding Requirements” Version 2, published in October 2010, states that:
	“Funding will only be available for a maximum of one Apprenticeship Framework at any one time. The delivery of more than one Apprenticeship Framework must be done consecutively and not concurrently. This includes Frameworks that are in either the same sectors or not. Where the learner wishes to progress to another Framework, at the same or higher level, then the previous Framework must have either been achieved or the learner has been withdrawn from the Framework.”

Apprentices

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships had a planned length of stay that was less than (a) 53 weeks, (b) 29 weeks, (c) 17 weeks and (d) 13 weeks in 2009-10 and the first three quarters of 2010-11.

John Hayes: holding answer 12 July 2011
	Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship programme starts which had a planned length of stay(1) that was less than (a) 53 weeks, (b) 29 weeks, (c) 17 weeks and (d) 13 weeks in the 2009/10 academic year and the first three quarters of the 2010/11 academic year (provisional).
	(1) Estimates of the planned length of stay are derived from the difference between the apprenticeship programme start date and the planned end date.
	
		
			 Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts by planned course duration for 2009/10 and August 2010 to April 2011 (1) 
			  Apprenticeship starts 
			  2009/10 August to April 2010/11 (1) 
			 13 weeks and under 3,690 3,860 
			 14-17 weeks 3,990 5,960 
			 18-29 weeks 30,660 38,650 
			 30-53 weeks 109,680 144,520 
			 54+ weeks 131,660 133,760 
			 Total 279,700 326,700 
		
	
	
		
			 (1) Provisional. Notes: 1. The start date and planned end date entered on the ILR reflect the length of the apprenticeship programme applicable to an individual learner and is based on a number of factors, including the needs of the employer, which is agreed at the outset with them, the individual apprentice and the training provider. In issuing apprenticeship frameworks, each issuing authority (typically sector skills councils) will determine the ‘normal’ length of stay. For many intermediate apprenticeships this is 12 months or 52 weeks, and for advanced programmes it is generally in excess of 12 months. 2. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10 except for total figures, which are rounded to the nearest 100. 3. Figures for 2010/11 cover August 2010 and April 2011 and are provisional. It is not possible to directly compare provisional 2010/11 estimates against final full year 2009/10 figures. Source: Individualised Learner Record.

Apprentices

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many young people (a) started and (b) completed apprenticeships in (i) York Central constituency, (ii) the city of York, (iii) Yorkshire and the Humber and (iv) England in each year since 2005.

David Willetts: The following table shows the number of apprenticeship starts and achievements in York Central parliamentary constituency, York local education authority, Yorkshire and Humber, and England for the academic years 2005/06 to 2009/10, the latest year for which final year data are available.
	
		
			 Apprenticeship starts and achievements in academic years 2005/06 to 2009/10 
			   2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 
			 York Central constituency Starts 320 380 410 480 530 
			  Achievements 190 240 210 330 310 
			        
			 York Local Education Authority Starts 590 690 780 830 950 
			  Achievements 340 480 390 620 580 
			        
			 Yorkshire and Humber Starts 22,420 24,140 29,300 32,170 36,530 
			  Achievements 12,730 15,550 15,380 19,230 22,130 
			        
			 England Starts 175,000 184,400 224,800 239,900 279,700 
			  Achievements 98,700 111,800 112,600 143,400 171,500 
			        
			 Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10 except the England total, which is rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Geography information is based upon the home postcode of the learner. Information on the number of apprenticeship starts and achievements is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 23 June 2011: http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current Source: Individualised Learner Record

Apprentices: Arts

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has any plans to lay regulations before Parliament enabling flexible models for the delivery of advanced and higher-level apprenticeships in the digital and creative industries.

John Hayes: In accordance with the commitment set out in the Department's “Structural Reform Plan(1)”, the Department is in the process of finalising draft English apprenticeship alternative completion conditions regulations intended to provide flexibility for the delivery of apprenticeships in specific occupations not only in the digital and creative industries, but in set crafts, maritime occupations and photo imaging, where self-employment and unpaid work are the predominant and accepted modes of employment. These are on track to be completed by the end of July 2011, and we hope to be in a position to lay the draft regulations before Parliament in September.
	(1) ( )http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/transparency/srp/view-srp/44/94

Apprentices: Richmond Park

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people have started an apprenticeship in Richmond Park constituency in 2011.

David Willetts: The following table shows a quarterly breakdown of apprenticeship starts in the Richmond Park parliamentary constituency during the first nine months of the 2010/11 academic year, from August 2010 to April 2011, based on provisional data.
	Figures relating to the calendar year are not available, but quarterly provisional totals for each of the last three quarters are shown for reference.
	
		
			 Apprenticeship starts in Richmond Park constituency by quarter, between 1 August 2010 and 30 April 2011 (provisional) 
			  Apprenticeship starts in Richmond Constituency 
			 August 2010 to October 2010 (provisional) 40 
			 November 2010 to January 2011 (provisional) 50 
			 February 2011 to April 2011 (provisional) 60 
			 August 2010 to April 2011 (provisional) 150 
			 Notes: 1. All Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Geography information is based upon the home postcode of the learner. Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 23 June 2011: http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current Source: Individualised Learner Record

Bombardier

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on what dates he has met representatives of Bombardier since his appointment; and whether (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department plan to meet Bombardier to discuss the future of the company in the UK.

Mark Prisk: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 4 July 2011, Official Report, column reference 1073W.
	The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has had no meetings with Bombardier Transportation since his appointment but he, like other Ministers, would not have been able to discuss the details of live public rail procurement tenders while they were still being evaluated and awarded. Bombardier has not, since the Thameslink announcement, sought a meeting with any BIS Minister.
	However, BIS officials are in regular contact with the company both in setting up the economic response task force and to discuss ongoing support to Bombardier Transportation as it carries out its own internal review of its rail operations in the UK. The BIS Permanent Secretary, Martin Donnelly, is scheduled to meet Colin Walton (Chairman, UK and Ireland Bombardier Transportation Group) on 27 July.

Bombardier

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have arranged with Bombardier on their future in the UK.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 13 July 2011
	There are currently no scheduled meetings between the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) Ministers and Bombardier. BIS officials and UKTI are in regular contact with the company both in setting up the economic response task force and to discuss ongoing support to Bombardier, as it carries out its own internal review of its operations. Colin Walton is also scheduled to meet the BIS Permanent Secretary, Martin Donnelly, on 27 July.

Business Survey

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the views of those running small and medium-sized businesses.

Mark Prisk: This Department undertakes regular surveys, including the BIS small business survey, and other research on a range of topics relating to small businesses, details of which can be found at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/enterprise-and-business-support/analytical-unit/research-and-evaluation

Business Links

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the timetable is for the integration of Business Link with the AlphaGov programme.

Mark Prisk: The Government’s digital service, led by the Cabinet Office, has launched an Alpha version of a new website on the internet to test the concept of a “single Government domain” with customers and developers. A Beta version of this site is due to be released in July 2011.
	While both the Alpha and Beta versions of the Government's digital service are being tested, a plan for the migration of content on the current Business Link website is being drawn up with HM Revenue and Customs which is responsible for managing the BL.Gov programme. There are no fixed dates for this migration exercise to be completed at this stage.
	BIS will play a lead role in the migration exercise, ensuring that businesses can continue to access the support they need during this transition period.

Business Regulation

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department (a) introduced and (b) removed in the six months prior to 1 September 2010; and what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was.

Mark Prisk: In the six months prior to 1 September 2010, BIS introduced one regulation that imposed costs to business, the consumer credit directive. The cost is £40 million and the benefit is £180 million, with a net effect benefitting business of some £140 million.
	In the six months prior to 1 September 2010, BIS removed three regulations with a net effect benefiting business of some £9.5 million. These are:
	amendments to the conduct of employment agencies and employment business regulations—net effect of £7.5 million benefitting business;
	the Legislative Reform (Insolvency) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order 2009—net effect of £7.5 million benefitting business; and
	modernisation of insolvency rules—zero cost to business.

Business Regulation

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on the burden of regulation on micro-businesses;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on reducing regulatory burdens on small businesses and micro-enterprises.

Mark Prisk: I have raised these issues with Antonio Tajani, the Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, and with Daniel Calleja Cresepo, the European Commission’s SME Envoy. I have also spoken with Members of the European Parliament.
	In addition, senior staff engage on an on-going basis with the Commission Secretary-General, her deputy and members of the Barroso cabinet on this matter.
	I have spoken with my German and Belgian counterparts and jointly lobbied the Commission with my German, Italian and Polish colleagues on the review of the Small Business Act for Europe.

Business: Rural Areas

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the likely level of business capital to be available in rural communities in each of the next four financial years.

Mark Prisk: The Government do not have any evidence that rural businesses have any issues regarding access to finance beyond those identified for businesses generally.
	The British Bankers Association (BBA) taskforce has made 17 commitments to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in order to support economic recovery. These commitments cover bank relationships with SME customers, access to finance and promoting understanding.
	One of these was a commitment to enhance the cross-industry lending dataset by broadening the statistics available on lending to deprived areas and national and regional data on the provision of bank support to business start-ups. The first set of data is expected in autumn 2011. This information will help us to identify any regions or specific areas where there is a particular issue with accessing finance.
	The Government are also committed to supporting microfinance, to support loans to SMEs and start-ups in disadvantaged groups and communities.
	Community development finance institutions (CDFIs) lend to enterprises that traditional lenders may consider too costly to serve or too risky (this might be for reasons including absence of a track record or lack of security to offer to the lender), but who have viable business plans and will have a positive impact on the local community. We have given the go-ahead (subject to due diligence) for a new £30 million wholesale fund, funded through the regional growth fund, that will provide resources for CDFIs. This will be the largest fund of its kind for the sector ever.
	On a national level, the Government continue to support the enterprise finance guarantee scheme, facilitating lending to viable SMEs that lack sufficient collateral or track record to access bank finance on standard commercial terms. To date, over £1.5 billion of loans have been offered to SMEs through the enterprise finance guarantee, which has been extended to 2014-15, with £700 million available this year.
	As a result of talks with the Government, the UK's five major banks have stated a capacity and willingness to lend £190 billion of new credit to business in 2011, including new businesses. This includes £76 billion of new lending to SMEs, which is a 15% increase on the amount lent in 2010.

Business: Rural Areas

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the likely number of business (a) start-ups and (b) closures in rural communities in each of the next four financial years.

Mark Prisk: BIS does not produce projections for the number of business start-ups or closures.

Care Homes: Training

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding his Department provides for workplace training in the residential care home sector.

David Willetts: In the 2011-12 financial year we plan to invest over £3.8 billion for over 3 million adult training places funded through the Skills Funding Agency. This includes the £180 million package announced in the 2011 Budget for an additional 50,000 adult apprenticeship places over this spending review.
	From the 2011/12 academic year we have introduced a single adult skills budget. This will provide further education colleges and training organisations with the flexibility to offer the range and balance of programmes, from basic skills to higher-level skills, in the mode of delivery that will best meet the needs of learners, employers and communities (classroom, workshop, online and in the workplace). As funding is not allocated at the learning aim level, the amount of money spent on qualifications in specific sectors is not reported centrally by the Skills Funding Agency.

Departmental Dismissal

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials in his Department were dismissed for under-performance as a result of the procedures arising from his Department's staff appraisal system in each of the last three years.

Edward Davey: The number of officials dismissed for under-performance as a result of the procedures arising from the staff appraisal system within BIS or predecessor Departments is less than five within the last three years. An exact number cannot be given in order to prevent possible identification of individuals.

Departmental Manpower

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many staff are employed in his Department's retail unit; how many were employed in May 2010; and what changes in staff numbers in the retail unit are planned over the comprehensive spending review period;
	(2)  how many economists are employed in his Department's retail unit; how many such economists were employed in May 2010; and what changes in the number of economists in the retail unit are planned over the comprehensive spending review period.

Mark Prisk: Four people were employed in my Department's retail team in May 2010, and it now comprises three people. In addition, two more people are helping the team specifically on the Mary Portas review, and the team is able to call on the wider resources of the Department, which includes advice from economists.

Departmental Redundancy

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much (a) his Department and (b) each non-departmental body for which he is responsible has spent on redundancies since May 2010.

Edward Davey: In June 2009 the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform was merged with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) to create the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
	BIS ran a voluntary exit scheme in September-October 2010, at a total cost of £27,169,651. In February 2011 the Department launched a voluntary redundancy scheme that is still ongoing, in respect of which the 2010/11 accounts contained an accrual of £9 million for costs that were incurred in the financial year and, in addition, a provision of £5.9 million against expected future costs.
	This information for agencies and non departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Regulation

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what process his Department follows for the production of regulatory guidance; and how many officials of his Department were involved in the production of such guidance on the last date for which figures are available.

Mark Prisk: Guidance is produced when users need information to be confident that they can comply with the law. Guidance is compliant with the code of practice on guidance, and is tested with stakeholders so that it is comprehensive and meets user needs.
	Figures are not available on the number of officials involved in the production of guidance.

Electric Vehicles

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will commission research into (a) the product life cycle of electrical components and (b) the environmental sustainability of electric vehicles before deciding on further expenditure on the electric automotive sector.

Norman Baker: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government keep their electric and other ultra- low emission vehicle policies under review to ensure that they continue to deliver environmental and green growth benefits, taking account of relevant research.
	Government research has estimated that an electric vehicle manufactured in 2010 is around 40% more efficient than a petrol-fuelled equivalent over its life cycle. This figure will automatically improve in line with improvements in the environmental performance of the national grid.
	The Technology Strategy Board is currently funding a series of studies on vehicle battery recycling and re-use, which helps to address concerns around sustainability and recovery of raw materials.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the application of the European Union waste electrical and electronic equipment directive 2002/96/EC, as amended by 2003/108/EC; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: I met the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on 7 December 2010 and discussed the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directive. Officials are in regular contact with officials in DEFRA.
	The European Commission is seeking to recast the WEEE directive to increase the minimum levels of WEEE collected and the overall levels of that equipment and those products that are treated, recycled or reused.
	The UK's priority in the negotiations is to deliver more consistency in implementation across member states, reduce administrative burdens and bring greater clarity for business and other obligated parties.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proposals he has had for the operation of sector-based work academies set out in his Department's structural reform Plan.

John Hayes: The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Department for Work and Pensions have engaged with relevant sector bodies to discuss the proposals for the operation of sector-based work academies. This engagement has shaped the model we are now using, which will offer participants up to six weeks of pre-employment training and work experience leading to a guaranteed interview.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consultation his Department has had with representatives of employers on (a) their involvement with and (b) the implementation of sector-based work academies.

John Hayes: BIS officials have worked with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to engage employment representative bodies in both the development and implementation of sector-based work academies. This included discussions with employer representative organisations, sector skills councils and national skills academies. In addition, a number of employers were directly involved in a series of consultative events held earlier this year by DWP. Employers in a range of sectors were also involved in the recent test of the approach in the south Yorkshire and Merseyside regions and their input has been used to influence the model that will be implemented in England from August.

English Language: Education

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the average student contribution to course fees for each level of study that will be required for those on inactive benefits to access English for speakers of other language courses in the 2011-12 academic year;
	(2)  what the average course cost will be for English for speakers of other language courses at each level of study in the 2011-12 academic year.

David Willetts: As autonomous bodies, further education (FE) colleges and training providers are responsible for their fees policies.
	In 2009/10(1) the average full cost of an English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) course for those without full fee remission was £1,057, which covered courses ranging from 9 to 530 guided learning hours. From August 2011, full fee remission will be provided for unemployed people in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance or in the employment and support allowance (work-related activity) group, and this will include ESOL courses where English language skills have been identified as a barrier to entering employment. We will continue to pay 50% of ESOL course fees for people who are settled here. We will no longer fund ESOL courses delivered in the workplace, as public funding should not be used to substitute employer investment in this training. We have introduced increased freedoms and flexibilities for FE colleges and providers, providing them with increased flexibility to respond to the needs of their communities.
	(1) The last full academic year for which data are available.

Environmental Protection: St Albans

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he has taken to encourage the growth of the green economy in St Albans.

Mark Prisk: The Government will shortly publish a roadmap to a green economy to provide clarity for businesses across the economy and a platform for growth. It will set out a clear vision for the green economy of the future, the Government's policy framework and the risks, opportunities and challenges for businesses.
	At a local level, local enterprise partnerships decide priorities, and this Department will work to help them deliver maximum economic growth across their area in the future. We work closely with industry and trade associations to get the right environment to enable green businesses to flourish and determine how best to enable companies to overcome barriers to business.

Further Education

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what guidance his Department provides to further education colleges on their governance.

John Hayes: holding answer 13 July 2011
	Further education colleges are independent organisations, incorporated under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. Through this legislation the Department issues “Instrument and Articles of Government”, which sets out a governance framework that each college must adhere to. However, as independent organisations they are themselves responsible for their policies, procedures and governance, so the Department does not provide guidance.

Further Education: Admissions

Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the resources and personnel which will be required to enable the Office for Fair Access to maintain the present level of scrutiny of university access agreements; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Government have committed through the recent White Paper ‘Students at the Heart of the System’ (June 2011) to strengthen the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) so that it can provide more active and energetic challenge and support to universities and colleges. We will want to work with the Director on the size and structure of OFFA but will make significantly more resources available, increasing capacity up to around four times its original level. This would equip OFFA to use its powers fully to monitor and review access agreements and identify and promote best, evidence-based practice.

Further Education: Private Sector

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Office for National Statistics on the reclassification of further education colleges as part of the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is an independent body which classifies organisations as public or private sector bodies for the purposes of compiling national accounts according to international and EU agreed guidelines. The ONS decisions are based on objective consideration of the facts and it is the final arbiter of classification decisions for the purpose of national accounts. The Department, working with HM Treasury, has presented evidence to the ONS seeking to clarify the nature of the relationship between further education colleges and the Government. This included information about our proposals, as set out in the Education Bill 2011, to reduce the regulatory burden as part of the Government's commitment to free colleges from central control. We await the outcome of the ONS's consideration of this evidence.

Further Education: Public Sector

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether further education colleges are classified as public sector institutions.

John Hayes: holding answer 14 July 2011
	In October 2010 the Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced its decision to classify further education colleges as central Government bodies for the purposes of national accounts. The Department, working with HM Treasury, has presented evidence to the ONS seeking to clarify the nature of the relationship between further education colleges and the Government. This included information about our proposals, as set out in the Education Bill 2011, to reduce the regulatory burden as part of the Government's commitment to free colleges from central control. We await the outcome of the ONS's consideration of this evidence.

Green Investment Bank

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the remit of the Green Investment Bank is to include the promotion of green process improvements.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 14 July 2011
	The Green Investment Bank will tackle finance gaps which exist despite a range of strong policies to incentivise green investments. Our May update publication gave examples of sectors which may currently face gaps, including industrial energy efficiency (which could include green manufacturing process improvements).
	The intention is to maintain a broad remit for the bank in view of the breadth of opportunities and challenges associated with greening the economy.
	In due course, Ministers will set the strategic direction of the bank, ensuring that it becomes an effective instrument of green policy.

Green Investment Bank

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what role the Green Investment Bank will have in supporting (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) business start-ups;
	(2)  what role the Green Investment Bank will have in supporting recharging infrastructure for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Mark Prisk: The Green Investment Bank (GIB) will support the deployment of green infrastructure and late- stage technologies. It will tackle finance gaps which exist despite a range of strong policies to incentivise green investments.
	Our May update publication identified offshore wind, waste and non-domestic energy efficiency as examples of sectors which may currently face gaps. But the intention is to maintain a broad remit for the bank in view of the breadth of opportunities and challenges associated with greening the economy. As an enduring financial institution, the GIB will need to make investments that are expected to make a positive return.
	In due course, Ministers will set the strategic direction of the bank, ensuring that it becomes an effective instrument of green policy.
	There is already a broad range of Government interventions to assist SMEs’ growth, including the enterprise finance guarantee and enterprise capital funds.

Green Investment Bank

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what representations he has received on the requirement for legislation to establish the Green Investment Bank;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the requirement for legislation to establish the Green Investment Bank;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the requirement to obtain state aid clearance from the European Commission in respect of the Green Investment Bank.

Mark Prisk: A number of stakeholders expressed a view that legislative underpinning for the bank could send a positive signal about the Government's commitment to create an enduring institution. Following state aid approval, the Government will introduce appropriate legislation confirming the Green Investment Bank's independent status as an enduring institution with a key public role.
	Whenever Government bodies make investments, they must comply with state aid rules. The UK's proposals for creating the Green Investment Bank are subject to approval by the European Commission, which must investigate the proposals and reach decisions on whether or not they are compatible with the provisions of the EU treaty as it relates to state aid. In the case of the Green Investment Bank, there may be state aid issues around the institution itself (because it is being capitalised with Government funds) as well as around some of the products it might deploy, which might be viewed as subsidies.
	The Government have begun engagement with the European Commission on the Green Investment Bank.

Green Investment Bank: Location

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what the timetable is for the decision on the location of the Green Investment Bank;
	(2)  what the process is for deciding the location of the Green Investment Bank;
	(3)  if he will assess the case for locating the Green Investment Bank in Yorkshire.

Mark Prisk: The bank’s location will be decided after state aid approval has been achieved. It will be chosen to enable the bank best to deliver its mission. Our May update publication provided detail of the criteria by which the decision will be made.
	Ministers will consider all submitted business cases for the bank’s location. To date, London, Edinburgh and Bristol have each made representations to host the bank.

High Street Review

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  on what date he expects the Government to respond to the recommendations made by the review on the future of the high street led by Mary Portas; and what form the response will take;
	(2)  by what date he expects the independent review of the future of the high street to report.

Edward Davey: The review remains due in late 2011. It is too soon to indicate when and how the Government will respond. This will be influenced by the nature and number of the review's recommendations.

Higher Education: Funding

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment has been made of the potential effects of planned changes to higher education funding on the level of (a) uptake and (b) fees for (i) MSc and (ii) PhD courses.

David Willetts: holding answer 13 July 2011
	The recent HE White Paper noted that the Browne review had raised the possibility that in future, when graduates are contributing more to the costs of their higher education at undergraduate level, they may be less likely to participate in postgraduate study and so recommended that trends in participation should be monitored carefully. Professor Sir Adrian Smith's postgraduate review group reconvened in spring 2011 to advise on this issue.
	This group advised that the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) be asked to review participation in postgraduate study, following the changes to undergraduate funding, as part of a longer-term assessment and evaluation of the impact of the funding changes. We will also ask HEFCE to consider as part of its review what additional data should be collected about postgraduates. We will revisit the issue of postgraduate funding as the new system beds in.

Higher Education: Funding

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to require the Higher Education Statistics Agency to collect information on new providers of higher education, including for-profit institutions; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The White Paper “Higher Education: Students at the Heart of the system” (CM 8122) makes it clear that we expect information requirements to apply to all providers as part of a single, transparent regulatory framework. The information that the Higher Education Statistics Agency is required to collect will depend on the type of degree awarding status or source of public funding a provider wishes to access. Precise information requirements for individual providers are a matter for the Higher Education Funding Council for England to determine through its regular review of provider agreements.
	Proportionate information requirements are essential to ensure accountability to students and the public on quality, access, value for money and financial regularity, but data collection can impose burdens on higher education institutions and we will work with the Higher Education Statistics Agency to reduce the size of data collections through the periodic review process.

Higher Education: Funding

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on widening participation in the higher education sector.

David Willetts: The Government have been very clear about the importance of widening participation and improving fair access in higher education. We are establishing a new framework, with increased responsibility on institutions to widen participation and greater Government investment in improving attainment and access for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Higher education institutions (HEIs) will deliver a range of outreach activities as part of their access agreements, agreed with the Office for Fair Access (OFFA), and their widening participation strategic assessments, agreed with the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
	Last week OFFA announced its decisions on institutions' access agreements for 2012/13. The agreements contain institutions' plans for investment in activities to widen access through programmes such as summer schools, scholarships and fee waivers, estimated to reach more than £600 million annually by 2015.

Higher Education: Admissions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what targets each higher education institution has agreed with the Office for Fair Access in each year since that office was established.

David Willetts: This is a matter for the Director of Fair Access. The Government made it clear in their guidance letter to the Director that institutions should identify their own measures by which they will judge the success of their investment in access. The Government do not impose targets. They are chosen by individual institutions and agreed with the Office of Fair Access (OFFA).
	To date, OFFA has published sector-level summary information on progress on milestones. This information is available in the relevant annual reports describing monitoring outcomes, available at:
	www.offa.org.uk
	From September 2012, the Director of Fair Access will assess annually the progress made by each institution towards appropriate benchmarks and other measures of widening participation, access and student retention that higher education institutions will have agreed with OFFA through their access agreements. OFFA will require institutions to publish a summary of their progress against their own proposed milestones and targets each year.

Higher Education: Admissions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish the research used by the Office for Fair Access in the formulation of targets for access for individual higher education institutions set out in paragraph 5.22 of the higher education White Paper.

David Willetts: Our recently published higher education White Paper made it clear that measures and targets in access agreements are chosen by the institution and agreed with the Office for Fair Access (OFFA).
	In February, our letter of guidance to the Director of Fair Access set out our expectation that institutions should agree a programme of defined progress each year—set within a five-year timeframe—in relation to appropriate benchmarks. This might include the access and retention benchmarks as calculated by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). In addition, we encouraged the use of measures taking account of the individual context of the institution and using an institution's own data. These expectations have been reflected in the Director's own guidance to the sector.

Higher Education: Admissions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students who started courses of higher education in 2009-10 had AAB-equivalent qualifications.

David Willetts: holding answer 11 July 2011
	In 2009/10 there were 56,000 UK and EU-domiciled entrants to English higher education institutions who had AAB or above equivalent qualifications. This is the same population used for the 65,000 estimate of the AAB population in 2012/13 quoted in the higher education White Paper.
	Source:
	2009/10 HESA and ILR data.

Higher Education: Admissions

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what methodology was used to model the impact of the new system of allocating student places set out in the higher education White Paper.

David Willetts: The impact assessment of the proposals in the White Paper can be found on our website. This includes modelling on the policy of allowing unrestrained recruitment of highly qualified students, and the creation of a margin of 20,000 places.
	We have asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to consult, immediately, on how to implement these approaches and to develop the necessary mechanisms. We have also asked HEFCE to monitor the impact of the approach and its effect on supply and demand and provide advice, as soon as feasible, on how the model is operating in its first year.

Higher Education: Admissions

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of any modelling carried out by (a) his Department and (b) the Higher Education Funding Council for England on models of allocation of student places.

David Willetts: The impact assessment of the proposals in the White Paper can be found on our website. This includes modelling on the policy of allowing unrestrained recruitment of highly qualified students, and the creation of a margin of 20,000 places.
	We have asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to consult, immediately, on how to implement these approaches and to develop the necessary mechanisms. We have also asked HEFCE to monitor the impact of the approach and its effect on supply and demand and provide advice, as soon as feasible, on how the model is operating in its first year.
	HEFCE has published some modelling of institutional impact of AAB proposal as part of its consultation on changes to be implemented in 2012/13. This shows the number of entrants with AAB or above and the number below AAB and can be found via the following link:
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2011/11_20/

Higher Education: Admissions

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to inform higher education institutions how many student places are to be withdrawn to create a flexible margin in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16.

David Willetts: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) generally publishes details of its provisional allocations in March, informed by a grant letter from the Government normally issued in December of the previous year. Final allocations of recurrent funding to institutions are confirmed in July. This information contains details of the recurrent funding received by each institution and numbers of funded places.

Higher Education: Admissions

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number of places that would be withdrawn from each higher education institution to create a margin of (a) 20,000, (b) 40,000 and (c) 60,000 places, assuming the most recent distribution of students accepted with AAB or above at A level remains unchanged.

David Willetts: The Higher Education Funding Council for England's consultation document states that creating a margin of 20,000 students would amount to an average reduction of approximately 8% to the student number control of all institutions with an access agreement with the Office for Fair Access. Reductions of 40,000 and 60,000 would therefore be approximately 16% and 24% respectively.

Higher Education: Finance

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the answer to Lord Willis of Knaresborough of 10 January 2011, House of Lords Official Report, column WA394, on higher education: funding, what steps he is taking to encourage private giving to colleges and universities following the closure of the matched funding scheme for voluntary giving.

David Willetts: The matched funding was intended as a time-limited scheme to incentivise universities to improve their fund raising efforts. We are fully funding the £115 million required for the third and final year and expect the total Government contribution of £200 million to have leveraged an additional £400 million in donations to higher education institutions. The 2011 Budget also announced a number of measures that will encourage private giving in the higher education sector, including a 10% cut in inheritance tax for estates leaving at least 10% to charities. This has been warmly welcomed by the sector.
	Additionally, higher education institutions' efforts to boost voluntary giving will be supported by a major profile-raising campaign for payroll giving and a philanthropy committee to consider honours for notable philanthropists, both announced in the recent Cabinet Office giving White Paper. We will also explore ways the Government can support existing mechanisms for voluntary giving, including among graduates.

Higher Education: Freedom of Information

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether all new providers of higher education are to be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Freedom of Information Act 2000 states that an institution designated as eligible for public funding by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is classed as a public authority and therefore subject to the provisions of the Act. Hence, new providers which are designated as eligible for public funding by HEFCE are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Existing or new providers of higher education which are not designated as eligible for public funding by HEFCE are not subject to the provisions of the Act.

Higher Education: Science

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2011, Official Report, columns 276-80W, on higher education: science, how many full-time first degree entrants studying each subject listed in the answer (a) there were in each (i) region and (ii) local authority area and (b) were in receipt of free school meals in each year since 2002-03.

David Willetts: The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is shown in the tables. Region and local authority relate to the students' location at the time of application to higher education (HE), rather than the location of the higher education institution.
	Comparable information on students who received free school meals is not available. Figures on the number of HE students who previously had free school meals (FSM) is derived by matching the national pupil database with the HESA student record. However, the dataset only tracks a cohort from age 15 to whether they enter HE by age 19. The figures provided in the tables cover students of all ages and so are not comparable with the FSM population which only covers young entrants.
	The Department plans to publish information on progression rates to HE by FSM status in an Official Statistics publication on 10 August 2011.
	A copy of the tables will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Higher Education: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding the Higher Education Funding Council for England has distributed for (a) teaching and (b) research for each full-time equivalent learner to (i) the university of York and (ii) York St John university in each year since 2005.

David Willetts: This information is not held in the form requested. However, it is possible to provide notional figures for the amount of grant distributed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) for teaching and research apportioned by the number of learners (full-time equivalent) in each year. It should be noted that there have been some significant changes in HEFCE's funding methodology over this period, which means that the following table should not be read as a time series. HEFCE funding is one source of income only and the figures provided do not include income from fees. In addition, the data do not take account of other sources of public funding, for example from the NHS or the research councils. Crucially, it should be borne in mind that institutions have a significant degree of freedom in terms of how their grant is distributed internally. It is for that reason that the figures given are notional and should not be read as the actual level of resource attached to any particular learner.
	
		
			 £ per academic year 
			  York St John university University of York 
			 Study level UG PGT PGR UG PGT PGR 
			 2004-05 3,522 359 1,458 3,344 1,484 8,515 
			 2005-06 3,695 350 n/a 3,438 1,540 6,210 
			 2006-07 3,897 509 n/a 3,668 1,672 5,149 
			 2007-08 4,075 642 n/a 3,895 1,828 5,854 
			 2008-09 4,078 927 n/a 4,088 1,911 5,806 
			 2009-10 3,699 687 4,808 3,864 728 5,268 
			 2010-11 3,608 371 4,366 3,768 718 4,922 
			 Key: UG—Undergraduate PGT—Postgraduate taught PGR—Postgraduate research. Notes: UG/PGT ‘Funds' for UG and PGT are standard resource minus assumed fees, plus widening access and improving retention funding. ‘FTEs' are Home and EU HEFCE-funded, excluding non-completions. Funding for non-mainstream FTEs has been excluded. PGR Figures include proportionately small amounts of transitional funding for PGR students. For the years in which the mainstream QR quality threshold differed from the PGR supervision fund threshold, the student numbers in this analysis include the larger of the eligible student totals. In the early years some notional teaching grant is included in the funding amounts.

Human Trafficking

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what responsibility he has for contributing to Government action against human trafficking; and what recent action he has taken in this regard.

Edward Davey: The inter-departmental ministerial group (IDMG) on human trafficking—which this Department is not represented on—co-ordinates work on trafficking across Government. The group brings together Ministers from key Departments to provide oversight and to strengthen our efforts to tackle human trafficking by ensuring that input and expertise from all Departments is shared.
	The IDMG last met on 17 February 2011. The group will meet every six months, with a meeting of officials in-between. The next meeting of the group will be held in the autumn.
	The Government will shortly be publishing their strategy on human trafficking. The strategy will reiterate the UK's intention to take a comprehensive approach to combating trafficking, both by focusing on tackling traffickers and maintaining effective care for victims. It will also mark a greater focus on combating the organised crime groups behind this crime.
	The Government's approach will be based on four key principles:
	improved victim care arrangements;
	enhancing our ability to act early, before the harm has reached the UK;
	smarter, multi-agency action at the border; and
	a more co-ordinated policing effort at home.

Insolvency

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on HM Revenue and Customs' role as a repeat unsecured creditor in insolvency cases; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: I have not had any discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on this issue.
	BIS officials have held discussions with their counterparts in HM Revenue and Customs with a view to exploring ways in which that Department can use its role as a large repeat creditor in corporate insolvencies to influence the level of fees charged by insolvency practitioners. Those discussions are ongoing.

Insolvency

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the average cost to insolvent estates of fee review complaints arising from reforms to the regulation of insolvency practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The Department is currently reviewing responses to the consultation on the regulation of insolvency practitioners. Whether to add a fee review mechanism formed a significant part of that consultation. The potential impact of any such mechanism on insolvent estates is being considered as part of the review process.

Insolvency

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to take steps to ensure that any fee review in insolvency cases arising from reform of the regulation of insolvency practitioners will limit losses to the insolvent estate; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The Department is currently reviewing responses to the consultation on the regulation of insolvency practitioners. Whether to add a fee review mechanism formed a significant part of that consultation, and the question raises an important issue that is being considered as part of the review process.

Local Enterprise Partnerships: Yorkshire and the Humber

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent meetings he has had with the chairs of local enterprise partnerships in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Mark Prisk: Over the last three months there have been no meetings between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the chairs of the local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) in Yorkshire and the Humber.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is visiting the Humber on 20 July 2011 and will meet with John Clugston, the interim chair of the Humber LEP, as part of that visit.
	During my visit to Leeds and York on the 28 April 2011 I met with both Neil McLean, the Leeds City Region LEP chair and Barry Dodd, the York and North Yorkshire LEP chair. I also met with James Newman, Sheffield City Region LEP chair, when he attended the partnerships launch event on 12 May 2011.

Manufacturing Industries: Training

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support his Department is providing to the train manufacturing sector in the UK.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 13 July 2011
	Further to the launch of the economic response task force, which will look at understanding and mitigating the economic impact of job losses at Bombardier and it’s supply chain, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Secretary of State for Transport, have asked their officials to work together with the sector and key delivery partners, such as UKTI, to support the train manufacturing sector and the wider rail supply chain in securing more sustainable UK jobs through clearly identified business opportunities.

New Businesses

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to increase entrepreneurial activity among (a) black, Asian and minority ethnic people, (b) service leavers and (c) women.

Mark Prisk: The information is as follows:
	Service leavers
	The Government have provided endowment funding totalling £5 million for the ‘Be the Boss' initiative to provide recent ex-service personnel with funding, training and mentoring support to help them start to grow a business. ‘Be the Boss' is delivered by the Royal British Legion and experienced partners across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland:
	http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/can-we-help/help-with-starting-a-business
	Ethnic minority groups and women
	The evidence with regard to entrepreneurial activity among black, Asian and other minority ethnic people is complex. Many minority ethnic groups are more enterprising than white ethnic groups, and for other ethnic groups the barriers to enterprise are imperfectly understood. We know, for example, that young black males have a higher rate of start-up than white ethnic groups, but a much bigger gap between levels of ambition to start an enterprise and actual start-up.
	The evidence with regard to women and enterprise is also complex. While it remains the case that significantly fewer businesses are majority-led by women than by men (with only one in seven of all small and medium-sized business employers being women-led), and that rates of enterprise ambition are lower among women than among men (in 2009, 2.9% of women not already engaged in enterprise said they intended to start up in business in the next three years, compared with 6.1% of men), start-up data indicate that in the recent past women have often been starting up in business at a faster rate than men.

Postal Services

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has received any representations about the quality of the postal service in the City of Chester constituency.

Edward Davey: This Department has not received any representations about the quality of the postal service in the City of Chester constituency.
	Quality of service is an operational matter for Royal Mail.

Postgraduate Education: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many student places on (a) taught Masters' courses, (b) other Masters' studies, (c) PhD studies and (d) other doctoral studies received funding from the (i) Arts and Humanities Research Council, (ii) Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, (iii) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, (iv) Economic and Social Research Council, (v) Medical Research Council, (vi) Natural Environment Research Council and (vii) Science and Technology Facilities Council in each of the last three years; and what estimate he has made of the equivalent figures in each of the next three years.

David Willetts: The following tables show the available data for the research councils, with explanatory notes. These abbreviations are used:
	AHRC is the Arts and Humanities Research Council
	BBSRC is the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
	EPSRC is the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
	ESRC is the Economic and Social Research Council
	MRC is the Medical Research Council
	NERC is the Natural Environment Research Council
	STFC is the Science and Technology Facilities Council
	In each of the last three years:
	
		
			  (a) Taught Masters (b) Other Masters (c) PhD (d) Other doctoral studies 
			  2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 
			 AHRC — — — 496 585 607 587 745 729 — — — 
			 BBSRC — — — 110 111 110 503 539 555 — — — 
			 EPSRC — — — — — — 2,579 2,788 2,902 — — — 
			 ESRC — — — 6 6 6 686 719 730 — — — 
			 MRC(1) — — — 69 63 — 307 276 — 55 51 — 
			 NERC — — — 285 285 285 316 334 325 — — — 
			 STFC — — — — — — 258 240 225 — — — 
		
	
	Estimates of the equivalent figures for each of the next three years:
	
		
			  (a) Taught Masters (b) Other Masters (c) PhD (d) Other doctoral studies 
			  2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 
			 AHRC — — — 490 480 480 730 720 720 — — — 
			 BBSRC — — — 110 110 0 530 400 420 — — — 
			 EPSRC — — — — — — 1,900 1,900 1,800 — — — 
			 ESRC — — — 6 6 6 660 660 660 — — — 
			 MRC(1) — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 NERC — — — — — — 330 330 330 — — — 
		
	
	
		
			 STFC — — — — — — 230 230 230 — — — 
			 (1) Notes on MRC data: 1. The data presented for (b) other Masters exclude any studentships where a Masters has been funded as part of doctoral study. 2. The data presented under (c) other doctoral training were clinically trained students funded as Clinical Research Training Fellows. 3. All of the data presented above exclude studentships at MRC funded Centres. In 2008/09 there were a total of 226 students undergoing doctoral training in MRC -funded centres. This figure includes existing and new students. The MRC does not have data available for any other years. 4. Data for 2010/11 are not yet available. 5. The number of studentship places funded by the MRC is subject to annual review, hence there are no figures given in the second table. At present MRC has no plans to significantly increase or decrease funding for PhD or Research Masters Studentships. Note on BBSRC data: All Masters students are included in “Other Masters”. Separate figures are not available for Taught and Research Masters. PhD studentship numbers for the last three years are estimates from data based on returns provided by awarded institutions. Note on EPSRC data: EPSRC supports Masters level training only when it aligns with its broader strategy. For this reason, in 2009 it decided to focus most of its support in this area on activities which employ Masters-level training as a means of developing highly skilled doctoral—level researchers, rather than those which view the provision of Masters graduates as an end in itself. As a result, their current support for Maste-s level training is delivered via the Centres for Doctoral Training, Doctoral Training Accounts and some courses in Mathematical Sciences (e.g. Statistics). Not all of these routes provide students with a formal Masters qualification, so it would be difficult to be definitive about numbers over a specific period. Note on ESRC data: ESRC funds a mix of 3 year PhD and 1 year + 3 years Masters + PhD awards. The total amount of these awards is included under section (c) PhD for the previous and next three years. ESRC is unable to disaggregate these figures further in the time available without use of disproportionate resources. However it estimates that 60% of the awards are of the 1+3 type. Under section (b) Other Masters, it has included a strategic initiative where we fund standalone Masters to build research capacity in Demography. Note on NERC data: NERC does not differentiate between MSc and MRes, so all places listed as other masters. Notes: 1. The year presented relates to an academic year i.e. 2008/09 relates to students starting in October 2008. 2. The data do not take in to account any funds leveraged by HEIs to increase the total number of studentship places available. 3. Figures for the next three years are estimates and hence the actual numbers may vary from those given above. If universities choose to support part-time students and fees-only students, and/or match research council funding with that from other sources, then more students will be able to be supported; PhD students may also be supported by larger research grants from some councils.

Research: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received on future funding for research capital in each of the last six months; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: Following proposals made by the research councils, an extra £100 million of science capital was announced in the 2011 Budget. This will help drive innovation and growth and reflects our commitment to cutting-edge research. The projects announced were as follows:
	£26 million to develop the Norwich research park;
	£44 million to develop the Babraham research campus;
	£10 million to develop the national science and innovation Campus at Daresbury;
	£10 million for three further instruments at the ISIS neutron source in Harwell; and
	£10 million to start a national space technology programme.

Science Capital Development Fund

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what projects are to be funded from his science capital development fund; and where each such project is to be located.

David Willetts: The following capital projects were identified by the research councils as their highest scientific priorities and currently receive funding from the BIS large facilities capital fund (LFCF):
	
		
			 Project Location 
			 Institute for Animal Health redevelopment Pirbright, Surrey 
			 Laboratory of Molecular Biology Cambridge 
			 Diamond Light Source Phase III Harwell, Oxfordshire 
			 Chipir facility at ISIS neutron source Harwell, Oxfordshire 
			 HECToR supercomputer Edinburgh 
			 Replacement for RRS Discovery Southampton 
			 Birth Cohort Facility Swindon 
			 European Life-Science Infrastructure for Biological Information (ELIXIR) Cambridge 
			 Note: LFCF funding earmarked, subject to approval of the business case.

Spaceflight

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with European organisations on plans for manned space flight and exploration.

David Willetts: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Mr Brine) on Thursday 14 July 2011, Official Report, columns 454-55.

Students: Finance

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on conservatoires of his proposals for core and marginal funding of student places.

David Willetts: The Government see an important role for small and specialist institutions like conservatoires. In our December 2010 grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), we asked the council to treat such institutions as a priority in allocating its teaching grant. We repeated that message in our recent White Paper and the letter we wrote to the council on its publication. In that letter, we also asked the council to consult on how best to implement our proposals to free up student number controls in order to allow student choice to drive competition, quality and efficiency across the sector. Those proposals have two elements: the unrestrained recruitment of high-achieving students, scoring the equivalent of AAB+ or above at A level; and the creation of a flexible margin of about 20,000 places.
	Early indications are that some conservatoires may be able to recruit additional students scoring the equivalent of AAB+ or above at A level. It is for the council to take decisions on the details of the mechanisms used to implement this approach.

Students: Loans

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of medical students who take out commercial loans during their studies.

David Willetts: The Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2007/08, published in April 2009, is a comprehensive study of student income, expenditure, borrowing and debt. It showed that 61% of English-domiciled, full-time undergraduate medical or dental students(1) (across all years of study) expected to have borrowings from commercial sources, including commercial credit and overdrafts, by the end of the academic year.
	(1) Base sample = 170 respondents.

Technology Strategy Board: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 269W, on the Technology Strategy Board: finance, when he expects to announce the final budget of the Technology Strategy Board for 2012-13 and 2013-14.

David Willetts: We plan to notify the Technology Strategy Board of its allocation for 2012-13 and 2013-14 in March 2012 and March 2013 respectively.

Thameslink: Rolling Stock

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessments were carried out when awarding the bid to build Thameslink trains on the impact of (a) loss of revenues to supply chain companies to bidders and (b) potential loss of jobs at those supply chain companies.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 13 July 2011
	I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Lady to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr Denham) today (UIN 63731).